Full Of Grace

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, 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."

Angels are sent from God to all of our homes.  We just have to recognize their presence often hidden behind the curtains we hang to ignore them.   These are curtains made of a fabric of fear and loneliness that darken our lives.  But the angels are there and whispering for us to draw back the drapes.  Their low voices tell us, “The Lord is with you.  Do not be afraid.”

Christmas is less than a week away, but many of us are despondent and feel abandoned by those we love.   It’s not an unusual feeling – that we have not found favor with God, such as Mary.

Let’s remember we are all full of grace.  It’s time to open the curtains and speak to our angels who tell us we should not be greatly troubled but comforted that the Lord is always near. We are not alone.  We never are especially when we reach out to those in need who welcome us as their angels giving them light and warmth much needed these cold and dark days of early winter.

Deacon David Pierce