Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "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 called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
Dawg's thought:
Today's prayer intention is for one baby to be saved from an abortion for this solemnity.
As Christians, I can't help but feel that in some way, today's solemnity should be more of a celebration that Christmas. Today in the Church, we celebrate the "Hyperstatic Union," the union of total divinity and total humanity in Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Our God.
"He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance" - Philippians 2:7
Today, we may not exchange presents or gather with family. Today is even better because today is a day to celebrate life! Our Lord has taken the form of a human from conception! Your parents chose to bring you to term! You are still alive, and therefore you have been given more days to grow closer to Him through the purification of your hearts! It's a wonderful day to celebrate the life you have been given through the yes of your parents, just as Christ became "fully God and fully human" through the yes of Mary in her "fiat."
Rejoice and be glad, my brothers and sisters, for the wonderful gift of life: a greater gift than any gift you have received and will receive at Christmas. Take care and God Bless.
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