From Bitter to Favored

The season of Advent is about the now and the not yet.

Mary lived in the age of the not yet. In fact, in Mary’s time, nearly every Jewish household named one of their daughters Mary which means “bitter”. The time of the not yet was a time when God’s people had been conquered by cruel nations, had their culture stripped from them, and had experienced centuries of silence from their Creator. They were weary, angry, hopeless. But God broke through the silence delivering a message to a Mary, a young girl who would no longer be called bitter, but rather, favored.

We live in the now of knowing our Savior and the not yet of waiting for His return. That is what Advent reminds us of every year.

This was a bitter year for many, and the joy of Christmas may feel a bit elusive this year. As we light our Advent wreath with all four candles this week, our table is more illuminated than ever. Remember that there is no darkness (no family tension, no political turmoil, no illness or injury, no financial strain, no job insecurity) that cannot be broken by the Light.