29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
We saw yesterday that Mary's visit by Gabriel was not something she expected, but one that she was prepared for. Nonetheless, she responded with confusion and some fear. If we are sincere about our sin, there is something trembling about being in the presence of God's messenger. Just like with others who have had such encounters, Gabriel's first job is to calm her fears and let her know God is there to extend grace, not collect for all her failures. His message is not one of approval for who she is, but one of hope and encouragement for who she is to become. We anticipate Advent not because we have been nice instead of naughty, but because God has something good in store for us despite, and even because of, our imperfections. In order to receive that, Mary did have to have certain preconceptions about the goodness of God, His mercy, and His proneness to take ordinary people and do extraordinary things. If you are not anticipating Advent this year, what do you really believe about God's character?
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