4th Sunday of Advent | 21 December 2014 | Listen to His message Luke 1:26-38 Our Advent journey is nearing its end.  Christmas is just a few days away when the Word becomes Incarnate. The Gospel from Luke for this Sunday tells us of Mary and the news that she is to bear a child. The Gospel begins “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, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen!” As I contemplated the gospel this week, I was drawn to two lines, “Mary was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean” and then Gabriel’s response, “Listen!” These two passages leapt out at me as I reflected on the year that is drawing to a close and as I look forward to the New Year and what it may hold for my loved ones, my family and me.  In my silent contemplation looking back over the year and all that has transpired in my life I can recall more times than I would want to admit when I too was disturbed by God’s word
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