Luke 1:26-29
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favor! The Lord is with you.' She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean.
The leader says "The Lord be with you." and all the assembly responds "and also with you." Right? What does that mean to you? Whenever you utter those words, do you see that you are crossing the threshold from the ordinary every day "stuff" into a realm where God's extraordinary presence cuts through time and space? Those words are a prayer. We pray that the Lord's presence will not be obscured by human distractions. If we REALLY mean what we are saying, we are indicating that we trust that something remarkable is about to occur. The Lord is with us....therefore there is a movement approaching that can accomplish something beyond our human expectaions, nomatter how lofty they may be.
Mary was deeply disturbed when she heard the divine messenger say "the Lord is with you." Perhaps she sensed that the core of life as she knew it was being claimed and completely transformed. However, even though she was in "wonder" regarding the specific meaning of what she was hearing, she was in "certainty" that what was happening was true.
This certain wonder challenges our minds, doesn't it? Whether you are the one leading the prayer (or opening a meeting) or if you are one of the voices to respond, trust that when you point to the presence of the Lord you are reminding EVERYBODY that nothing from that moment on will be the same.
Gracious God....help us to remember the power and depth of your promised presence!
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