Dear Elizabeth
3rd Sunday in Advent (B)
2008-12-21
Luke1:26-38March 25th.
Dear Elizabeth:
I had an extraordinary day today. You may not believe this, but an angel of the Lord visited me.
His name was Gabriel. And, he gave me a most interesting greeting. He said, “Chaire, kecharitomene…Hail, full of Grace! The Lord is with you.”
I have to be honest with you. At first, I was a bit troubled. I mean…what an odd thing to say, that I was completely, perfectly, enduringly endowed with grace.
But, then, I thought about it a bit. You know, I’ve always known that there was something special about me. That God was protecting me, preparing me for something wonderful. Yes, deep down, I do feel “full of grace!”
I think the angel knew I was a bit confused, though. As a matter of fact, I didn’t know what this could mean…or exactly why the Lord would send him to me.
So Gabriel offered words of comfort. He told me not to be afraid, and that I had found favor with God!
Now, I have to admit…that felt truly awesome. It’s great to know that God loves me, and that I was in His favor. And it was doubly great to know that I had nothing to fear.
But, my dear Elizabeth, my day didn’t end there. Oh no…it gets even better. Are you sitting down?
Next, my angel friend told me that I was to bear a son…not just any son, mind you, but the Son of the Most High…the Son of God! And this child will grow up to take His seat upon the Throne of David…and He will rule forever!
Did you hear that?
At last…the Messiah for which our people have waited for centuries is finally coming! This is the Messiah that was foretold by the prophets: by Elijah, by Isaiah, by Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
This is the Messiah who will finally deliver our people to the Promised Land, the land of milk and honey, to freedom to worship the God of our fathers, the God of Moses, Abraham and Jacob.
I am going to give birth to the Messiah.
And, Elizabeth, I know I’ve told you this before…but mankind desperately needs deliverance.
Our world has grown dark with sin. Money, greed, power, slavery, and moral depravity: they are all running rampant.
Yes, we need the Messiah, our Savior. We need this Child that Gabriel said I should name Yeshua, which means “Jehovah is salvation.” That’s right, Jesus: God saves.
But, I quickly realized that there might be a problem. How can I bear a son? I mean, my fiancé Joseph and I are just now engaged. We’re certainly not yet living in the same house, so we’ve had no relations.
Gabriel spoke again, and told me the most amazing thing! This Child, this Holy Child, will come about because The Holy Spirit, the power of the Most High will completely cover me, consume me and overshadow me just as God’s presence overshadowed the Ark of the Covenant as Moses led my people through the desert those many years ago.
Truly this will be the Son of God.
And you know, where most men would turn away and cast me aside because of the possible scandal, Joseph, my wonderful Joseph, will stand by me. He’s a good man, a holy man of God.
Yes, I trust in God, and I know He has great plans for me. I know it. I truly feel it down to the very core of my being.
That’s why, Elizabeth, I told the angel Gabriel, “Fiat voluntas tua…May it be done to me according to your word.” I said, “Yes” to God.
Elizabeth, as I write to you today, I can’t help but marvel at what great and wonderful things God has done for me. In fact, deep down in my soul, I truly proclaim the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
Who knows, perhaps because of what I did today, or more accurately, for the honor God afforded me today, all generations will call me blessed. For, I am truly blessed.
I only hope that I can serve as an example to others.
I hope that others will see my simple “yes” as an opportunity to examine their own relationships with God. Perhaps He is preparing them for something wonderful as well.
Hopefully, they too will say, “Yes!”
By the way, I was so elated to hear that you and Zeccariah are expecting a child. I know you two have been trying for so long, and had nearly given up hope. I know you thought it might be impossible. But truly, now you can see that nothing is impossible for God. Oh, and I have some good news. Joseph said that I could come and visit you soon!
Dearest Elizabeth, I don’t know exactly what the future holds for us. But, what I do know is that if we trust in God, and if I trust in His Son, my Son Jesus, Emmanuel, “God With Us,” all will be well.
So now I look forward to the advent of His coming, the coming of our Savior, the God-man Jesus: Who, like the first rays of light in the morning sky, dawns on our world as Savior…King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
I can hardly wait!
Yes, I had an extraordinary day today.
With Love,
Your Cousin Mary