Favored- Part One

THE LULU CHRONICLES

LuLu wanted me to tell her THE story. You know the one about the baby, the manager, the miracle, the angels and so forth. This is the time of year when that story sees a lot of light. It’s a grand story, a true story, and a story that is told around the world. There is so much more to this story than gets told, of course, but here’s my version, at least the first part of it. The next few blogs we’ll complete it. Pedal along with us as we return to the time when Hope was born…

           

            Gabriel hid among the clouds and waited for the signal.  His abundant wingspan was cloaked by the moon’s shadow.   Waiting was the hardest part.  He knew what he must do.  The importance of his mission awed and humbled him all at the same time.  The Holy of Holies had waited centuries for this moment.  Now with the flash of a star, he would put into motion the beginning of Glory.  But first he must wait for the all clear.  The Fallen One must not be allowed to interfere tonight.  Even if he tried, he’d lose.  But the Father wanted this moment sacred.  No mocking.  No tantrums.  That is how it must begin.

            Mary could not sleep.  The night was too dark.  The quiet was too quiet.  She got up and went to her window.  The moon was almost completely obscured by clouds.  No stars could be seen.

            Suddenly an opening formed and a star shot across the sky.  For a brief moment an illuminated path could be seen in the clouds.

            “How beautiful,” whispered Mary.  Her grandfather had told her about stars that that lit the night with fire, but this was the first she’d ever seen.  It must be a sign that all is well, she thought.   Content with that, the young girl went back to bed.  Just as she straightened her blanket, she heard a voice from the corner of her room, “Hail, favored one!  The Lord is with you.”

            Suddenly all about her became as brilliant as if lit by the sun itself.  Standing before her was the most handsome being she’d ever seen.  Glowing, pulsating, not moving but constantly moving.  His grand wings circumference the chamber corralling the brilliance so that it could not leave the room.  Gone from her sight were her window, her nightstand, and her oil lamp.  Just her, the bed and Gabriel.

            How she knew his name, she didn’t know.  But he nodded to her and comforted her with a smile.

            “ Favored,” she asked?

            “Do not be afraid, Mary.  For, yes, you have found favor with God.”

            Mary was troubled.  In her maturing wisdom, she knew that being ‘favored by God’ was not always a good thing personally.  Whirling before her were her fathers Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph.  Hard lives.  Holy leaders.

            Gabriel continued his declaration, “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”

TO BE CONTINUED…