Love: The Anunciation

Micah 5:2 – 5a, Hebrews 10:5 – 10, Luke 1:39 – 45

Christmas is a time of Joy and happiness. That is when we remember the birth of Jesus. Just as in the time of Jesus birth we prepare to celebrate Christmas in the backdrop of the slaughter of children in America, the brutal rape of a 23 year old girl and many more in India, and the floods and land slides which has cost the life and property of many rendering many homeless. It is in this background that we turn to the readings today.

Traditionally we read about the annunciation in Luke 1:26 – 38. That is where the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that through her The Son of the Most High will be born.  However on hearing the news that her older cousin who was barren was in her 6^th month of pregnancy Mary visits her. However while we keep this in mind I want to draw a few insights from our readings in the light of our theme for the day - Love: the annunciation. Let us draw on a few insights into our Gospel reading today.

Our Gospel for today reminds us of the role of women in the birth of Jesus - Mary and Elizabeth and when we read on Anna. In their own understanding they interpret the birth of Jesus. Just as in the birth, at the death and resurrection of Jesus, women take an important role.

The gospels reveal women as persons of dignity and worth. Yet many still misinterpret the bible to downplay the importance of women. It is through the act of one of these women that we will draw a few insights into the Gospel reading for today..

Annunciation commands a response. A response based on trust, obedience and fidelity. And here we have Mary’s recognizing that the child she was to have was the Messiah. She accepts being chosen to carry a child outside wedlock, a situation which could have branded her as an adulteress and brought shame and ridicule to her and her family. And the most important she obeys the will of God when she tells the angel I am the Lords servant may it be to me as you have said (v38). The response of Mary or the three characteristics of Mary can be taken as the mission of God for the Christian community – Recognise, accept, obey. And here God uses a woman who has her roots from a less known town called Bethlehem to take the good news of the birth of the Messiah to the community.

The witnessing community of Jesus in Antioch which was called Christians is an example we have of this mission. To recognize the Messiah is to recognize his mission, all whom he worked with and for whom he worked – women, children, the sick, tax collectors, prostitutes, the outcaste – leapers, the demon passed etc.

The opening of Elizabeth’s womb is a reminder God is on the side of the barren. Throughout the bible this can be seen. Sarah, Rebekkah, Ruth, Hannah and Elizabeth – all these women have played a part towards the realization of the Messiah. It reminds us that God places high value on human life. Though God created women on par with man, in God’s own image, the very same people have made women a vulnerable part of society. We are reminded that we as a Christian community to recognize God and his mission is to recognize those whom God recognizes.

It is not enough only to recognize the Messiah but it is also important to accept him. To accept his is to accept and continue the work he began.  Micah 5:4,5 the prophet says that the one who comes to rule over Israel will be one through whom people will live securely and in peace. One of the aspects of the mission of the Christian community is to recognize that we are God’s agents of security and peace for those in distress. Mary in her song says that the work of the messiah is VS 51, 52, 53. So the mission of the Christian community is not within the four walls of the church but to be outside. The church is only a common building for worship. The true body of Christ is the group of believers who live outside sharing their life with others.

The third response to the annunciation is obedience to the will of God. Just as Mary acknowledges to be the Lord’s servant  Hebrews 10:7,9 says that Jesus came to do the will of God. God the Father sending the Son, God the Father and the Son sending the HS, the Father, Son and HS sending the church into the world. Second Vatican council says “Missionary activity is nothing else and nothing less than the manifestation of God’s plan, its epiphany and realization in the world and history”. And obedience to God’s plan which is his will took the messiah to the cross. Yet there were people who did not recognize him. Obedience to God, calls for sacrifice of life, resources, luxuries. Obedience is a challenge to any individual. But if we are true followers of Christ and believe we are called to proclaim the good news then we ought to be able to say the same words as Jesus ‘ Not my will but yours be done’ so that the mission of God will be fulfilled.

The angel Gabriel reveals to Mary the vision of God for Jesus and here Mary in her song interpreting that vision of Jesus. While the angel announces the birth of Jesus to Mary in return she goes out to the hill country to announce this good news. God news doesn’t necessarily have to come from the rich and the mighty. It can come from the poor and the simple, and the nobody in society. That is why Micah 5; says Bethlehem Ephrathah, thou you are small out of you will come a ruler. And here Mary’s lineage can be drawn back to Bethlehem. God is speaking to us through the various events, contexts and people in society. From whom and what we least expect.

The good news has already been announced to us. We are called to respond. We have to train ourselves to recognize his works so that we can continue to fulfill his mighty works in this day and age. None of God’s plan will be accomplished here on this earth unless it’s base is love. The love of Christ is inclusive, it is one which is willing to reach out to anybody, take on shame, ridicule and humiliation for the betterment of others. And then we too can rejoice with joy as the baby in the womb of Elizabeth did and with Mary and say my soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.