Visiting the Creche
Week 2: Mary, Joseph, and Some More Angels
Introduction
Most parents-to-be find out they’re expecting after a couple minutes wait watching a pregnancy test strip. Not so for Mary and Joseph. Once again, like Elizabeth and Zechariah, the news comes in the form of an angelic birth announcement. Unlike Mary’s elderly relatives, though, this news is perplexing for Mary and devastating for Joseph. Mary and Joseph are betrothed. In their culture, that means they are pretty much legally married, but aren’t actually living together. Read between the lines and you can understand the situation: Mary shouldn’t be pregnant unless she’s been unfaithful to Joseph. So, some angelic visits are necessary not just to announce Mary’s pregnancy, but also to reassure both Mary and Joseph that that there’s nothing scandalous about this pregnancy. It’s the child himself who will be the scandal.
The real scandal to come will be the life of Jesus. Already we hear words that will rock the world. This Child “will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” and “he will save his people from their sins.” No wonder as the story unfolds, Mary will do a lot of pondering, and Joseph will take his dreams seriously.
Scripture:
Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Matthew 1:18-24
18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20 But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” 24 When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife.
Invitations
Reflect on this week’s scripture. What words, phrases, or ideas are meaningful to you? Why?
This week’s prayer is Mary’s song to God that she sang when she visited Elizabeth and Zechariah. Let this be your daily prayer this week.
Prayer
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit
rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
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He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
— Luke 1:46-55
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