In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you will name him Jesus. 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.”
(from New Revised Standard Version)
Mary might have been as young as 12 years old (the age a girl reached womanhood) when the angel came to her. She was probably very scared, not just to receive a heavenly messenger, but also at the message he brought. Unmarried, but pregnant, she could face the possibility of being stoned to death.
As all of us contemplate our future and the future of loved ones, we too are scared. It would be unnatural if this were not so. None of us have contemplated something as vast as the corona virus. But we need to bear in mind that God never gives his sons and daughters more than they can cope with. If we live in faith, we can still say, as Mary did, “Let it be with me according to your word.”
Father God,
give us the strength to live each day as it comes,
knowing that you are there in the midst of the chaos,
and that we are held close to you
as cherished children.
Amen.