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Advent Devotional for Sunday, December 18
Luke 1:26-38
I have a friend whose given name is a derivative of Mary. For that and other reasons she collects portrayals of the annunciation of Mary: Fra Angelico’s 15th-century fresco, Henry Ossawa Tanner’s The Annunciation. She says that she collects the works because the angel says“Do not be afraid” (Luke 1:31). My friend thinks about all the things in keeping with God’s reign she has not done because of fear.
The heavenly being says, “do not be afraid” and stands before Mary to announce Jesus and his reign that will have no end. Mary responds by questioning how such a thing could be.
We live in that space. Today, once again, this text is the great announcement of grace in our midst. Today joy comes to us: God’s reign will have no end. And we are told not to fear. We live in that space between the announcement of God’s saving ways which are beyond our ways and God’s ways coming to us, among us, for us. How can it be? Our puny lives, our making a mess of things, our meanness. Yet the Unapproachable One does not stay far off but comes to enlighten the world: God’s salvation, God’s shalom, God’s reign. Do not be afraid.
In your righteousness, Holy God, renew the face of the earth and make us fearless servants for the needs of the world. Amen.
Jennifer Lord
The Dorothy B. Vickery Associate Professor of
Homiletics and Liturgical Studies
For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.
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