DAY 8: Ponder the Mystery: A Contemplative Advent Journey

And [the angel Gabriel] came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you…Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.’” Luke 1:28

PONDER: What an astonishing greeting this must have been to Mary. What affirming words of love Gabriel delivered from the heart of God directly to this young woman. In first-century Israel, Mary would have had no personal agency or authority assigned to her, and likely had few, if any, resources she could call her own. And yet, her yielded heart, turned toward God, no one would take from her. This humble heart-gift from Mary is the one God names “highly favored.”

RESPOND: Spend a few minutes considering your own identity, positive or negative, including any negative self-talk about your abilities, circumstances, or choices in life. As you hold these thoughts before God, mercy and grace calls you to dismiss the false identities and harsh labels that you may have appropriated to yourself. Listen to the Divine greeting in your own life as “favored one.” As you receive God’s delight in who you are, just as you are, spend a few minutes simply basking in the light of Divine love. How do you respond to this encounter?

A BLESSING: May you know the fullness of love living and working in you. May that love demolish all falsehoods that fight for space in your inner being. May love cover you, favor you, and be your beautiful truth all the days of your life. Amen.