Week 4 of the Church year
വിശുദ്ധ മറിയത്തോടുള്ള അറിയിപ്പിന്റെ ഞായർ
Six months after he spoke to Zechariah in the Temple, Gabriel is sent to a young woman in a small village. She asks one question and then says yes.
The angel Gabriel greets Mary in Nazareth and tells her she will bear a son, Jesus, who will reign for ever. Mary asks how, since she is a virgin. Gabriel says the Holy Spirit will come upon her. Mary agrees.
Last week Gabriel promised John. This week he promises Jesus. The Sundays before Christmas walk through the story one announcement at a time.
Mary did not understand everything before she said yes. She asked her question, heard the answer, and trusted the rest to God.
ഈ ഞായറാഴ്ചയുടെ വായനകൾ
A lamp is not hidden; Jesus’ mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and do it.
Whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister and mother.
Jacob dreams of a ladder to heaven and calls the place Bethel, the house of God.
An angel tells a childless woman she will bear Samson.
Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you.
Oh, that you would tear open the heavens and come down.
We are God’s children now; love one another, not in word but in deed.
When the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman.
He shared our flesh and blood so that he could help those who are tested.
Gabriel is sent to Mary in Nazareth, and she says: let it be to me according to your word. This is the Gospel of the day.
Open in five scenesJacob dreams of a ladder and calls the place the house of God. Samson’s mother hears an angel, and Zechariah and Isaiah promise that God will come to live among his people. In Mary, God makes his home.
References follow the official lectionary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Your parish may read them in a different order.
Pick a scene to see what happens in it and what is easy to miss.
In Elizabeth’s sixth month, Gabriel is sent to Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary, engaged to Joseph of the house of David.
Last week’s message came in the Temple in Jerusalem to a priest. This one comes to a young woman in a village nobody thought much of (John 1:46).
“Rejoice, you highly favoured one! The Lord is with you.” Mary is greatly troubled and wonders what kind of greeting this is.
She is troubled by the words, not by the angel. Mary thinks before she speaks.
Do not be afraid, Gabriel says. She will bear a son and name him Jesus. He will be called Son of the Most High and will sit on David’s throne, and his kingdom will have no end.
This time the mother names the child. With John, the father was told to name him (Luke 1:13).
Mary asks how, since she has no husband. Gabriel answers that the Holy Spirit will come on her and the power of the Most High will overshadow her.
Zechariah asked “how can I be sure?” and was made silent. Mary asks “how will this be?” and is given an answer. One asks for proof, the other asks how to obey.
Gabriel tells her Elizabeth is pregnant too, for nothing is impossible with God. Mary says: I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.
“Nothing is impossible with God” echoes what the Lord said to Abraham about Sarah (Genesis 18:14).
The verse to keep
“ഇതാ, ഞാൻ കർത്താവിന്റെ ദാസി; നിന്റെ വാക്കുപോലെ എനിക്കു ഭവിക്കട്ടെ.”“Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.””
Maryമറിയം
A young woman of Nazareth, engaged to Joseph. The Church calls her the Mother of God.
“Hebrew Miriam; the meaning is uncertain”
Gabrielഗബ്രിയേൽ
The same angel who spoke to Zechariah six months earlier.
““God is my strength””
Josephയോസേഫ്
Mary’s betrothed, a descendant of King David.
““He will add””
Jesusയേശു
The son promised to Mary, who will reign for ever.
““The Lord saves””
ഒരു ചോദ്യം, പിന്നെ സമ്മതം
Mary is often painted as calm and still, as if Gabriel’s words cost her nothing. Luke tells a different story. She is troubled. She wonders what the greeting means. She asks a sensible question about how any of this could happen. Only after that does she say yes.
Her yes is not blind. It is the answer of someone who has heard enough to trust the one speaking, even though she cannot see where it leads. She does not know about Bethlehem, or Egypt, or the cross. She knows that God has spoken and that nothing is impossible for him.
Most of the big decisions in a family are made like this, without knowing how they will turn out. Mary shows that asking questions and trusting God are not opposites. She brought her question to God, and then she gave him her life. That is still a good order to do things in.
കുടുംബമായി സംസാരിക്കാം
What is one question you would like to ask God right now?
Two minutes after the audio. Everyone gets a turn, and nobody is interrupted.Say yes to one thing someone asks of you this week, without first asking what is in it for you.
Lord, you sent your angel to Mary and she said yes. Give us her courage to ask honest questions and her faith to trust you with the answer. Let it be done to us according to your word. Amen.
The whole year
Every Sunday of the Church year, season by season: readings, the Gospel and a question for the family.
Sunday 2 of 6 in Suboro