This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Advent. Luke’s narrative style is on display as he deftly moves from the “annunciation” concerning John the Baptist to the one concerning the salvation of all humanity. There is a confluence of temporal and chronological markers, and the reappearance of Gabriel. The “sixth month” recalls v.24, and seems to imply that Elizabeth has only now come out of seclusion. This prepares for the sharing of the news of her pregnancy in v.36 and her subsequent welcome of Mary (vv.39–45). Yet geographically and socio-religiously we move away from the center (Jerusalem and the Temple) to the margins of the nations (Nazareth in Galilee). Gabriel, God’s messenger, is the connector, pointing to the God’s Word active in the world. Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Advent. In the previous post we considered the parallels between the Annunciation about the birth of Jesus in our gospel and the annunciation of the birth of John. Now we consider the points of contrast between these two scenes which are equally telling. Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Advent. In many respects our gospel is similar to the annunciation of the birth of John. The angel Gabriel appears to announce the birth of the child, and the annunciation follows the pattern of birth annunciations in the OT: The angel says, “Do not be afraid,” calls the recipient of the vision by name, assures him or her of God’s favor, announces the birth of the child, discloses the name of the child to be born, and reveals the future role of the child in language drawn from the Scriptures. After their respective announcements, Zechariah and Mary each ask a question, a sign is given, and the scene closes with a departure. Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Advent in Lectionary Cycle B. The gospel tells of the events that preceded and prepared for the birth of Jesus, including the dreams of Joseph (Year A), the Annunciation (Year B), and the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Year C). ​​By using different Gospel passages, the lectionary provides a more complete narrative of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. It allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the angelic announcements, the experiences of Mary and Joseph, the visitation of the shepherds, and the journey of the Magi, which may not all be found in a single Gospel.  One year focuses on the Annunciation to Mary and highlights the importance of her role in the incarnation, while another reading may emphasize the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the fulfillment in Christ. Continue reading →