Third Sunday of Advent - Mary Letter - Day 15

Third Sunday of Advent 12/13/20

The Collect

 Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations. 

 Canticle 15 The Song of Mary Magnificat Luke 1:46-55

 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

 my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * 

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. 

From this day all generations will call me blessed: * 

the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. 

He has mercy on those who fear him *

 in every generation.

 He has shown the strength of his arm, *

 he has scattered the proud in their conceit. 

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * 

and has lifted up the lowly. 

He has filled the hungry with good things, *

 and the rich he has sent away empty. 

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * 

for he has remembered his promise of mercy, 

The promise he made to our fathers, *

to Abraham and his children for ever. 

 The Second Lesson 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. 

The Gospel John 1:6-8,19-28 

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so

that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing. 

Dear Elizabeth,

The other morning, I was sitting a breakfast with the family, and I struggled to get out of my chair! All of the sudden I have gotten so big and unwieldy. I feel so awkward and clumsy. On the other hand, I love feeling the babe move within me and see little kicks and ripples across my belly. This is such a strange and wondrous thing, to carry another life within you. I don't know why I was chosen for such responsibility in a time as this, but I do know, that there is so much that amazes me. I feel blessed and terrified, and I fluctuate back and forth, sometimes within a few minutes. God has called me to a very normal and unusual task!

The reports must have gone out form the wise women, even though we ask for them to keep quiet. The elders came again to question Joseph and Papa. I guess I wasn't important enough to talk with. Or, as a woman, they think I am incapable of responding to them, let alone to God. I am saddened by their ignorance but really not surprised. They vacillate from thinking we're evil sinners to mentally incompetent fools. Joseph and Papa were really angry when the elders left. Mama made tea and calmed them down with fig cakes, but they were really hurt and rattled. They talked a good deal about our trip to Bethlehem, and how we would have to be extra secretive about our plans and the route we take. As if traveling with this body isn't challenging enough! Well, Elizabeth, we are going to need an extra measure of prayers and I am going to have to recite my Psalms more regularly than I have been. 

Much love,

Mary