Advent Week 4 – The Candle of Love
We lit the candle of Love as we celebrated the annunciation this Sunday, the day that Gabriel came to Mary. Amazingly, she said yes to bearing God’s son – to be a God bearer – a theotokos. How many people would have responded thusly?
The heart of the Jewish, Moslem, and Christian faith is the God, the one true God, who loves us. We are asked to love the Lord our God with all our heart and mind and soul and strength — and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
It is this love for one another that prompts us to give gifts at Christmas – and yet we know that the best gift is one’s self. Give kind words, smiles, gentleness and forgiveness this Christmas. Remember to light the candle of love in your heart so that you, too, can say yes to God.
Hope Talks 
Yes, yes! Nicely put. All best for a blessed Advent and beyond into the New Year.
Thank you, Nancy. A blessed Advent and Christmas to you as well.
A beautiful thought. Another thought is, Joseph was her promised husband. The only man who could marry her. If Joseph rejected her and her baby, Mary would be stoned to death. Mary risked death believing Joseph would not reject her and her baby. She lived in a village, she could not claim she was raped like a girl who lived away from other people. If a girls home was away from other people, she could claim she was raped and would not be stoned to death. Mary trusted that God would take care of her. Mary trusted that God would tell Joseph. Mary trusted that God would protect her on her way to visit her cousin, who was pregnant with John. Young girls did not travel alone safely. Mary knew she was safe because of the angel’s visit. She believed, trusting God for everything. How many of us can say the same.
Thank you, Phyllis for your thoughts. Joseph could have had her stoned or could have put her away – divorcing her. Things could have been very difficult for her. Christmas blessings to you.
We should rejoice that Mary said yes. How many other girls had God created knowing those girls would say no? Mary was predestined to carry the Messiah in her womb. God knew she would say yes. He knew her before she was made. Christmas blessing to you, Pastor.Sonja