Thoughts for the Day

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, 'Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven'. But Ahaz said, 'I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test'. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel'.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today's prophecy from Isaiah is a story of God's faithfulness triumphing over king Ahaz' faithlessness. The nation of Judah was besieged by the kings of Aram and Israel, but King Ahaz will not trust God for help. He prefers to turn to the monstrous pagan nation on the horizon and appease Assyria, even though God sends Isaiah to encourage him to trust in the Lord for deliverance. But God still gives Judah hope for the future. He offers him a sign - a young woman (ie a girl who is not married) will bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel (meaning 'God is with us'). This was to come true but not for over 700 years, with the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary.

Today is a major feast day, and is observed almost universally throughout Christianity, especially in the Orthodox, Anglican, Catholic and Lutheran churches. To give it its full title it is the 'Feast of the Annunciation of our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary'. It celebrates the tidings that are brought by the Angel Gabriel to Mary that she will bear God's Son. The 'Incarnation' is the central doctrine that God became flesh - that he became a man in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God - both man and God.

In England this day has often been called Lady Day in honour of Mary, and since 1897 the worldwide Mothers' Union have adopted it as its yearly day of prayer, intercession and thanksgiving, in places like cathedrals, village churches and homes from Tonga to Vanuatu, Africa to Australia, and the UK to New Zealand. The MU has over 4 million members in 83 countries, and brings support for family life to the heart of communities through prayer, support for the under-privileged, and by working at the highest levels to bring in just legislation. They seek to represent Mary's example of trust in God's plans for her life.

Heavenly Father,
we thank You that You chose Mary
to be the mother of Your Son,
and that she and Joseph nurtured him
within a family environment.
We thank You that she had the humility
and the courage to accept God's request
brought by the Archangel Gabriel,
even though it would finally bring such sorrow.
May she continue to be an example
of all that is good in this world.
Amen.