Be it unto me
Today's focusThe angel Gabriel tells Mary she will bear a son called Jesus, the Son of the Highest, whose kingdom will have no end; troubled at first, she answers, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.'
Read
28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37For with God nothing shall be impossible. 38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Reflection
When the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, his greeting is one of deep grace. He tells her she is "highly favoured" and that "the Lord is with thee." Yet, these words do not immediately bring her peace. Like many of us when we face the unexpected, she is "troubled at his saying" and tries to understand what this visit could mean. The promise she receives is staggering: she will bear a son named Jesus, the "Son of the Highest," whose kingdom will never end. Even in her confusion, God meets her with reassurance, reminding her that "with God nothing shall be impossible."
Mary’s response is a beautiful example of quiet trust. Though she asks how such a miracle will happen, her heart remains open to God’s plan. She calls herself the "handmaid of the Lord" and offers her simple, courageous consent: "be it unto me according to thy word." Today, you may feel troubled by things you cannot yet see or understand. This passage invites you to trust that God’s power can "overshadow" your life, bringing forth His purposes even when the way forward seems impossible.
AI-written reflection on the passage above. Let Scripture itself be the main thing.
Reflect
Where is God asking you to trust his word today, even before you understand how it will work out?
Pray
Lord God, nothing is impossible with you. Like Mary, I want to say, 'Let it be to me according to your word.' Give me a willing heart when your ways are bigger than my understanding.