Bountiful Spirit - March 25, 2021
Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
Reflection by Jacob Hardesty
This reading from Luke is, at its heart, a question of faith. "Question" yes, but in a loving way. Questioning here does not imply, nor suggest, a lack of affection, a lack of faith. Indeed, as Luke takes pains to point out, questioning is not antithetical to faith. He writes, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."
Where do we see God? Where do we seek God? In those places that are comfortable; in places that we recognize? I would submit that finding God in places we expect is no vice. But finding God in places we don't expect is a benefit unlike any other.
