This year for the illuminate podcast, we are taking a different tack from the previous two years. Throughout the year in Africa, we focus on a different Bible story each month. For the next four Fridays, we'll be reflecting on how the Bible story is felt by those who are doing the work on the ground in Africa. Our story for Advent is Gabriel's message to Mary - the soon-to-be mother of the Most High. Join us for the next three weeks as we hear from African leaders. This week we'll read a scripture and gather a little bit of context to lead us through the following weeks. The ANNUNCIATION In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you”Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” "How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” "I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Then Mary said, “My heart sings with thanks for my Lord. And my spirit is happy in God, the one who saves from punishment of sin. The Lord has looked on me, His servant-girl and one who is not important. But from now on all people will honour me. He who is powerful has done great things for me. His name is holy. The loving-kindness of the Lord is given to the people of all times who honour Him. He has done powerful works with His arm. He has divided from each other those who have pride in their hearts. He has taken rulers down from their thrones. He has put those who are in a place that is not important to a place that is important. He has filled those who are hungry with good things. He has sent the rich people away with nothing. He has helped Israel His servant. This was done to remember His loving-kindness. He promised He would do this to our early fathers and to Abraham and to his family forever.” Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she went to her own home. Nothing will be impossible with God! In this story, you find a girl whom no one thought was special or important. Nothing in her life had led her to believe that she could be called highly favoured by the Lord. She did not feel that way. Who was she? We know from the scriptures that even her name was ordinary. There are six Marys in the New Testament alone. She’s poor, female, and young. A virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph - likely arranged by their parents when Mary was quite young. Nazareth was a very small town, a completely insignificant village. It is so insignificant that Luke feels compelled to explain to Theophilus where Nazareth is. Again, so insignificant that when Nathanael is told the Messiah has been found, Nathanael’s response is, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" The angel, Gabriel, came to an unremarkable girl in an unremarkable town with news that was going to change everything. What feelings flooded her heart and mind, changing the atmosphere and direction of where she thought the day might be going? A child! Born of the Holy Spirit! She will be an unmarried pregnant virgin! How will she explain to Joseph that she is pregnant? Is Joseph going to believe her? He would have the right to divorce her! Imagine Mary sitting down with Joseph and trying to explain that this baby is really God's miracle. Mary is going to have much explaining to do in her community. Can you imagine this teenage girl explaining all of this to her parents, who have set her up with a good man, and they are engaged to be married? We would expect Mary to offer some resistance to this plan. Did Mary really understand the implications of what she had been told? It was only with deep faith and trust that she accepted this message from heaven. She does not find a way to get out of the responsibility placed upon her. Elaborate plans were made and put in motion before the foundations of the earth. The long-anticipated redemption of all creation was laid before Mary. She was not the second or third choice. Our heavenly Father knew she was the one for the job. Many of us prefer familiarity to spontaneity. The known to the unknown. Mary humbly accepted this radical direction in her life. She yields her dreams, her plans, and her life to the Lord. Her reaction? A song! She says, "I'm in!" Our God is the one who lifts up the humble. Our call is to say yes to Him because when we do that, we know he can do great things through us and He will get the glory. You've been listening to illuminate podcast by Hands at Work in Africa. If you haven't already subscribed to the podcast, please find us on Spotify, Apple or Google Podcast by searching "Meanwhile in Africa..." Learn how you can give the gift of hope. Visit www.handsatwork.org/JoinUsThisChristmas.