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Miryam bath Heli, in one sense of the word, was the most important person that ever lived. We know her as Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was the daughter of Heli (bath Heli). She was very young and already betrothed to be married; but she was chosen by God to be the mother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mary must have been shocked beyond imagination when the angel Gabriel appeared in her humble dwelling in Nazareth and began to speak to her. When he said, “Greetings, Highly Favored One, the Lord is with you: Blessed are you among women,” she was troubled and did not know what to think and apparently feared what might be coming, because the first thing Gabriel told her was not to fear.
Then Gabriel gave Mary the message he had been sent to deliver. He said, “Remember what I am telling you and do not forget. You are going to conceive and give birth to a son and you shall name him “Jesus.” He is going to be great and mighty and will be called the Son of the Most High God and the Lord will give him the throne of his father David. He shall reign forever and ever over the house of Jacob and His kingdom shall have no end.”
It was “good” news, but so grand and glorious that it was overwhelming. It was like all the age-old promises and prophesies were focused on her. She did not understand how it could be, because, as she told Gabriel, “I am still a virgin; I have not consummated my marriage.”
But our ways are not God’s ways. And Gabriel explained, “The Holy Spirit is going to come upon you, and the power of the Almighty is going overshadow you; therefore also that holy child which shall be born by you shall be called the Son of God.” And to encourage her Gabriel told her that her cousin Elizabeth, the barren wife of Zachariah, was already six months pregnant and reminded her that with God nothing in impossible.
Then Mary in simple, trusting faith said, “You are looking at a humble servant of the Lord; let it happen to me according to your word.” What a beautiful model and example for us! This was obedience that was going to cost Mary a heavy price. It would leave her open to charges of having committed fornication and subject to the consequences. When Joseph heard of her pregnancy, he did not want to put her to shame, but he did think of divorce until God advised him in a dream of the true nature of the situation.
Just as Mary, in the greatest mystery and miracle of history, bore the Son of God in her womb, so let us, in whose heart He dwells, and by that fact makes our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit, yield ourselves to Him, so that He may live His life in us and do His work and ministry through us.  May God bless each of you, now and always. Amen!

James & Virginia Beaty

St. Luke 1:26-38

26And in the sixth month
The Angel Gabriel was sent from God
To a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph,
Of the house of David;
And the virgin’s name was Mary.
-o0o-
28And The Angel came in unto her, and said,
Greetings, Highly Favored One,
The Lord is with you:
Blessed are you among women.
29And when Mary saw him, she was troubled at what he said,
And she wondered in her heart what such a greeting could mean.
-o0o-
30And The Angel said to her,
Do not fear, Mary: for you have found favor with God.
31 And, remember this: You shall conceive in your womb
And bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and He shall be called the Son of the Most High:
And the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David:
33 And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever;
And of His kingdom there shall be no end.
34Then said Mary to the angel,
How shall this be, since I am still a virgin?
– o0o –
35And The Angel answered her and said,
The Holy Spirit shall come upon you,
And the power of the Highest shall overshadow you:
Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of you
shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, take note of this:
Your cousin Elisabeth has also conceived a son in her old age:
And this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38And Mary said,
You are looking at a handmaid of the Lord;
Let it happen to me according to your word.
-o0o-
And The Angel departed from her.