Steve-o's Devos: Do Not Be Afraid

As we get ready to gather for the service of the longest night, it is an important time to pause and reflect on this simple yet world-changing story that announces the coming of Jesus (click on the title to read the passage). I could probably spend a lot of time here trying to unravel all the bits and pieces of Luke's story. It is a story filled with mystery, unusual characters, and odd incidents. It is a story that tries to give a careful history of Jesus and wants to start out with an important announcement...really a proclamation for all time.

Two centuries separate Luke's careful account of Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she will be the mother of all mothers. Human history has had various ways to understand the story from more mystic and ancient magically descriptions, to a host of well-reasoned scientific explanations, to a lot of back pedaling and waffling over what "really" happened and how it impacts whether you should follow this Jesus.

The reality of all these various arguments, philosophies, and thoughts boils down to Luke's simple laying out of events. I wonder if he would have elaborated so much if he thought we would have stumbled with incredulity at parts of his tale? But truly we are called to focus on these pieces of bizarreness with jaws dropped. An angel appeared? Mary was a "virgin" and yet is going to have a baby? God's interested in us?

It is the foundation of the message here where that last question is intended to break through. God has taken a hard look at us and realized there is something missing. It means that whatever we thought was normal, whatever thought was a sure thing, is going to get turned upside down...sometimes for good. And do in the midst of this unusual love story, for that is what this is, God's love story for us all, that Gabriel's words, "be not afraid" feel odd and yet are such a welcome to our ears, and to Mary's.

Gabriel's pronouncement opens the door for what should surely have overwhelmed a woman of age let alone a teenager awaiting to be married. In the message Gabriel shares, it is perhaps no mistake that Mary is directed to go to another older woman who can give her perspective and help her through what will be a rough time in the coming weeks. It is this sense that God's hope for us and all that it might mean comes with a promise, but also with the blessings and resources to see us through.

As you come to worship with us in the coming week, take a moment to remember who those loved ones were that might have said "don't be afraid" and take a moment to pause and give thanks for all those who were with you when that voice might have been suddenly and unexpectedly silenced. Even Gabriel did not return to comfort Mary. That job was left to a great cloud of witnesses, her family, and a community that needed to discover what it meant together to be thrust onto the center stage of God's new hope for the world.

May this week be a reminder of hope for you filled with memories of those you loved and those who helped to love you through the loss of someone dear. Amen.