Category: Christmas

Read Matthew 1:18-25

Unbelievable! What must Joseph have been thinking? The news Mary shared with him must have seemed incredible. Women don’t just get pregnant when they’re still virgins. Now what? This changes everything! How could he have been so blind? Mary seemed like a nice girl, didn’t she?

Enter the angel. It was time for God to intervene in Joseph’s life to ease his mind. What has happened was not meant to be a curse, but rather an honor. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.  And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” We know God chose Mary to be honored among women, but her husband needed to be a devout man of God as well. Jesus’ earthly parents would be scrutinized as well as heralded as holy.

Continue reading “Joseph: An Honor or Curse?”

Read Luke 1:26-56

“Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.” If I had been Mary, I’d have been a lot more than just confused and disturbed. Imagine looking up from what you were doing only to see an angel of the Lord standing there. My first question would be, “who are you?” It had to be shocking to have a strange man, Gabriel, standing there.

Gabriel sensed Mary’s fear all right. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!” Finding favor with God–now that sounds great. Don’t we all want to please God? What thoughts do you think were going through Mary’s head about now? I would have wondered what had I done that was so special.

Continue reading “Mary: The Blessed One”