Wilmot First Presbyterian Church

SCRIPTURE:  Luke  1:26-28 

GABRIEL 

     Gabriel is one of only two angels mentioned by name in the scripture (the other is Michael).  The name means literally, “God is my hero” and the angel’s job was to take the hero’s messages wherever he was told to do so.  Gabriel appears to be one of the shakers and movers among the angel corps but nothing indicates he was more privy to God’s plans than anyone else. 

     Gabriel had brought a message just 6 months earlier to an older priest named Zechariah that his (older) wife, Elizabeth, would bear a son.  No message was so important, however, in the history of all creation as the one Gabriel brought to a young woman in Galilee.  Scripture tells us angels do not marry and I assume they likewise miss several other experiences uniquely human or Gabriel never would have told Mary to “not be afraid.” (vs 30)  This “do-not-be-afraid” greeting seems something like standard angel fare…  Everywhere in scripture an angel meets a human, the encounter alarms them.  For those of us who are human, it is easy to understand why! 

     Angels, however, have been directly in the presence of God and know only one fear; to be removed from that presence.  For Gabriel, Mary had nothing to fear unless she refused the “favor” she had found with God, but even an angel who doesn’t know human frailty nor fear may have been holding his breath in this moment.  Does Mary have a choice here?  Apparently she does, and Gabriel waits for her response.  Fredrick Beuchner imagines the scene in his book, Peculiar Treasures and pictures Gabriel trembling and crossing his fingers while he waits her response.

    We say we want to know God, but unlike Mary, seek God on our own terms.  The Bible recognizes this when it notes falling into the hands of God is fear inducing (Heb. 10:31).   It’s as though we are almost more afraid of finding God than never knowing God and perhaps this is why Gabriel has not been sent to us.  Too many of us, in our pursuit of God, assume God will barter with us or strike a bargain.  To find a living God requires complete forfeiture of my own terms and this is a fearful thing no matter how lousy my own terms are working.  Gabriel and the rest of the angels know real fear and they must just shake their heads at how little we understand.  For that matter, however, so should we. 

PRAYER:  Loving God, I know You call out for me to turn completely to You.  Surrender is difficult, to say the least, but I do want my life to be filled by You.  Help me to seek in such a way that I may be found.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN

AVTIVITY:  Complete the phrase:  What I am afraid God would ask of me is….