"Tungod Kay Sa Dios Ang Tanan Sarang Mahimo"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 1:26-38)

Sang anom na ka bulan ang pagbusong ni Elisabet, ginsugo liwat sang Dios ang anghel nga si Gabriel nga magkadto sa Nazaret, nga isa sang mga banwa sa Galilea.

Ginpadala siya didto sa isa ka ulay nga babayi nga ang iya ngalan si Maria. Si Maria kalaslon na kay Jose, nga isa sang mga kaliwat ni Haring David.

Pag-abot sang anghel kay Maria, nagsiling siya, "Maria, magkalipay ka, kay ang Ginoo kaupod mo kag ginpakamaayo niya ikaw."

Pagkabati sini ni Maria naglibog gid ang iya ulo, kag ginhunahuna niya kon ano bala ang kahulugan sini.

Gani nagsiling ang anghel sa iya, "Maria indi ka magkahadlok. Dako nga dungog ang ginhatag sang Dios sa imo.

Magabusong ka kag magabata sang lalaki, kag ngalanan mo siya nga Jesus.

Mangin bantog siya kag kilalahon nga Anak sang Labing Mataas nga Dios. Ihatag sa iya sang Ginoong Dios ang ginharian sang iya katigulangan nga si David.

Magahari siya sa mga kaliwat ni Jacob hasta kon san-o; ang iya ginharian magapadayon sa wala sang katapusan."

Nagsiling si Maria sa anghel, "Paano bala ang pagkahimo sini, kay ulay pa ako?"

Nagsabat ang anghel, "Magaabot sa imo ang Espiritu Santo, kag magalikop sa imo ang gahom sang Labing Mataas nga Dios. Gani ang balaan nga bata nga matawo sa imo kilalahon nga Anak sang Dios.

Tan-awa bala ang imo paryente nga si Elisabet. Nagsiling ang iban nga indi na siya makabata kay tigulang na gid siya. Pero karon anom na ka bulan ang iya ginabusong, tungod kay sa Dios, ang tanan sarang mahimo."

Gani nagsiling si Maria, "Alagad lang ako sang Ginoo, kabay pa nga matuman sa akon ang imo ginsiling." Dayon naghalin ang anghel.

***

Meditation: 

Do you want to live a grace-filled life? The angel Gabriel salutes Mary as "full of grace".  To become the mother of the Savior, Mary was enriched by God with gifts to enable her to assume this awesome role. There is a venerable tradition among many Christians, dating back to the early church,  for honoring Mary as the spotless virgin who bore the Son of God in her womb. A number of early church fathers link Mary's obedience to this singular grace of God.  "Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race"  (Irenaeus, 2nd century). "The knot of Eve's disobedience was united by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith" (Ireneaus, 2nd century). 

What is the key that can unlock the power and grace of God’s kingdom in our personal lives? Faith and obedience for sure! When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they immediately experienced the consequence of their action – separation from the God who loved them. God in his mercy promised them a Redeemer who would pay the price for their sin and the sin of the world. We see the marvelous unfolding of God's plan of redemption in the events leading up to the Incarnation, the birth of the Messiah. Mary's prompt response of "yes" to the divine message is a model of faith for all believers. Mary believed God's promises even when they seemed impossible. She was full of grace because she trusted that what God said was true and would be fulfilled. She was willing and eager to do God's will, even if it seemed difficult or costly. God gives us grace and he expects us to respond with the same willingness, obedience, and heart-felt trust as Mary did. When God commands he also gives the grace, strength, and means to respond. We can either yield to his grace or resist and go our own way. Do you believe in God's promises and do you yield to his grace? 

"Heavenly Father, you offer us abundant grace, mercy, and forgiveness through your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to live a grace-filled life as Mary did by believing in your promises and by giving you my unqualified "yes" to your will and to your plan for my life."