"Then the angel departed from her..."
Luke 1:38
And there we have it. Today's Gospel ends with one of the most powerful verses in scripture, I think. Gabriel visits Mary, announcing that she has found favor with God. She is to be the mother of the Savior, the Messiah foretold to the Jewish people for centuries, the fulfillment of God's promise. She responds with both innocence and wisdom: "How can this be?" "Be it done unto me according to your word." And, then, the angel departed from her. It reminds me of watching "The Wizard of Oz" as a little girl and being so frustrated when Glenda, the Good Witch, comes and greets Dorothy. She tells Dorothy how she can go to Oz to see the Great Wizard, but then Glenda floats away in a big bubble, leaving Dorothy, on her own, to start a seemingly perilous journey to Oz. Really? Why couldn't Glenda hang out with Dorothy a little longer? Why couldn't Gabriel stay with Mary from that moment all through labor and delivery? Well, in Gabriel's defense, he was just the messenger. God was with Mary through it all, and certainly, the Christ was with Mary all through it all. But it just seems we need a more tangible, physical presence, especially when the going gets rough. And that's where Elizabeth and Zechariah and Joseph and all the people we don't hear as much about come into the story. The innkeeper, the stable boy, the helpers who never even get a mention in the story--it is through them that God works just like in our lives. It is through God's people that God works--miracles. On this side of the Gospel, God was so present in all who were praying and there to help ease Denise's passing yesterday. Because that is where God always is--present in the presence of God's people. Thank you for your prayers and much love, heidi
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