Breath of Heaven

In the sixth month the angel of Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one!  The Lord is with you.” Luke 1: 26-28

Poems and songs express our feelings and capture our imaginations.  “Love Came Down at Christmas” (according to Wikipedia) is a Christmas poem by Christina Rossetti written in 1885.  The Christian band, Jars of Clay, on their 2007 album, “Christmas Songs”, modernized this poem.  This song’s lyrics affirm, “Love was born at Christmas, Stars and Angels gave the sign.”

Have you heard the song, “Breath of Heaven” sung by Amy Grant and others?  The song’s lyrics relate Mary’s feelings of surprise and fear when the angel Gabriel comes to her.  Imagine Mary, a teenage peasant girl, being told that she will give birth to a very special baby.  Mary’s reaction might be, “Wow, this is overwhelming.”  She must have been scared.  The angel Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid.”  Mary may have questioned if this is even happening.  She went to see her cousin Elizabeth, who Gabriel said would have a baby, to see if this was really true.  In “Breath of Heaven,” the words reveal Mary’s feelings,  “I am frightened by the load I bear.”  She questions, “Must I walk this path alone?”  Then pleads, “Be with me now.”  She wonders, “If a wiser one should have had my place?”  Then Mary accepts this divine blessing from God.  “I offer all I am for the mercy of Your plan.”  Then she pleads, “Help me be strong, help me be, help me.”

Do you identify with Mary?  Have you been asked to take on a responsibility that seems overwhelming?  Do you find yourself in situations that you do not feel able to handle?  It is times like these that we can be reassured.  God is with us.  God will help us.  We are not alone.

Prayer: God, you have sent your Holy Spirit to be with us.  Your love came down at Christmas, that wondrous first Christmas.  We are grateful for that love which surrounds us, every day, in every circumstance.  Amen.

Lois Poppe (reprinted from Advent 2014)