Today is the only High Feast Day in all of Lent. That’s because it is March 25th, exactly 9 months before December 25th: Christmas Day. Today we celebrate the coming of the Angel Gabriel to Mary with the announcement, that she, although a virgin, would give birth to a son. And not just any son, but the Son of David, the Son of God!

Here are the words of the Angel to Mary:

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 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 father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:30-33 ESV).

How awestruck must Mary have been. To have an angel appear to her and tell her that she had found favor with God! Mary’s response, known as “The Magnificat” (“My Soul Manifies”) was:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (Luke 1:46-57 ESV)

So we can rejoice today, for God is faithful and true. He has not left us without hope. As we journey through the Lenten Season, our focus upon our sin can sometimes weigh us down. Never lose sight of the cross and the wonderful power of Jesus’ blood to cleanse us. Through the sending the Savior and our faith in Him, we also have found favor with God.

Shane+