Luke 1

Luke lays out, in two chapters, the parallel miraculous births of Jesus of Nazareth and the man who becomes his prophet, John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah, telling him that his wife Elizabeth, formerly barren, is pregnant. Soon afterward, Gabriel appears to Elizabeth’s relative, the virgin Mary, who is betrothed to Joseph, telling her that she too is going to give birth to a child by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Mary visits Elizabeth, and Elizabeth prophesies that Mary will be “the mother of my Lord.”

Mary, rejoicing, utters the prayer now “my soul magnifies the Lord”.  John is born, and his father, Zechariah—who had been struck mute for the duration of the pregnancy as a punishment for his lack of belief in Gabriel’s prophecy— also utters a prayer, “Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel . . .”

 

These chapters portray the power of God and his ability to use us no matter how weak or unremarkable we may feel. Often we find ourselves in a situation which we can find no good resolution. However if we turn to the Lord, have faith and believe in Him, God can allow us to do great things. God uses us even at times when we feel weak, cowardice or unworthy – we can do miraculous things through Christ our Lord.

 

Cathriona