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Gospel Reading for December 20, 2023 – Luke 1: 26-38
GREAT SINCERITY
In the sixth month, 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, favored one! 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.
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“May it be done to me according to your word” should be the mantra of every Christian in all aspects of our life, especially when we are seething with anger; when we are having great difficulties; when we are vacillating in our decisions, etc.. If we can truly be like Mary, who brought Christ into the world, as Christians, we are tasked to bring Christ to others by becoming Christ-like in everything we do. And, if we can do this with GREAT SINCERITY, nothing and no one can stop us from gaining eternal life.
Lord, teach us to listen well to you and live our lives according to your Word!
