The Birth of Jesus ForetoldLuke 1:26-38 - Read by James Alfred26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 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. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.Reflection​Of all the ways to be greeted, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you!” has got to be at the top of the list.  This is the greeting the angel Gabriel gave to Mary, and then to calm her fears and confusion, Gabriel told her not to be afraid because she had found favor with God. The word “favor” can also be translated as “grace.” Mary was a particular recipient of God's amazing grace, and while a very special honor was given to Mary to bear the Christ child, all who put their trust in Christ are his favored ones and recipients of his amazing grace. And because Christ, the one called Emmanuel (meaning, God with us) has come, we also share in his presence.“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Those same words ring true for every born-again child of God, for by his grace the Lord is with us and we also are highly favored, indeed.Our King and Savior is drawing near!O come, let us adore him!