After hearing the angel’s message, we read Mary’s response: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Mary’s very response shows she had a heart that was open to God. She basically says “Let’s go. I’ll trust you with whatever happens. I’m here to be a servant of the Lord.” I think I can learn a lot about Mary’s deep faith and willingness to totally trust the Lord with her life and future. Mary had to know this would be no easy road to walk. She knew Joseph’s response would most likely be less than favorable toward her at the news that she was pregnant. What great faith she had. May I learn to trust God that much. “Let it be to me according to your word.”

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this?” For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.”

I found Gabriel’s statement pretty interesting. “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God . . . “. All I can say in response to that is “Wow.” I often wonder what that will be like – to stand in the presence of God. I can’t even really fathom how perfect that will be. Gabriel has done what we will one day do.

Advent reminds me of Jesus’ second coming and it reminds me that I too will one day stand (or maybe kneel!) in the presence of God. How wonderful is that?

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God--the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

Today was a pretty rough day. It was one of those days you wouldn't want to have too often. So, how interesting, that tonight I turn to Revelation 3 and read this passage. That's the way Lectio often works. I needed some good news and there it is, right there in Revelation 3.

What good news? How about that Jesus is coming soon? Thank goodness! I feel a lot like Paul a lot of days when departing to be with the Lord sounds pretty darn good. Today was surely one of those. It's encouraging to know that there is more to life than paychecks, jobs, bills and stress. In the midst of our world, the Kingdom IS coming, even when we can't always see it.

So, it's Advent and Advent is a season of waiting. We await the coming of the King. Just as He came from heaven to earth, He will one day return. He is coming soon. Praise God!

We may at times be able to show the world Christ in moments when all can clearly discern in history some confirmation of the Christian message. But the fact remains that our task is to seek and find Christ in the world as it is, and not as it might be. The fact that the world is other than it might be does not alter the truth that Christ is present in it and that His plan has been neither frustrated nor changed: indeed, all will be done according to His will. Our Advent is the celebration of this hope. What is uncertain is not the "coming" of Christ but our own reception of Him, our own readiness and capacity to "go forth to meet Him." We must be willing to see Him and acclaim Him, as John did, even at the very moment when our whole life’s work and all its meaning seem to collapse. Indeed, more formidable still, the Church herself may perhaps be called upon some day to point out the Victorious Redeemer and King of Ages amid the collapse of all that has been laboriously built up by the devotion of centuries and cultures that sincerely intended to be Christian.

Revelation 2:9-10
9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

I know your tribulation . . . Do not fear what you are about to suffer . . .

It’s easy for me to forget that Christians have suffered and died for their faith throughout the church’s history. It only takes a cursory reading of church history to realize that countless scores of people have been martyred for the faith we profess. This persecution goes on today in our world (although it doesn’t seem to garner much attention from the media).

What’s this mean to me? I can’t help but feel convicted to pray for the persecuted church. They need our prayers and I need to remember that there are people dying for the faith.