[knocking at the door…]

Yes, I’m coming.  Coming!  Hold on.  Oh.  Yes, what do you want?  I’m very busy here, I don’t have time for salesmen or evangelists.

No, you are mistaken.  I’m Mary.  If you want Susannah, she’s three doors down.  What?  You didn’t say “Susannah,” you said, “Hosanna”?  Well, for heaven’s sake!  That’s a pretty strange greeting.

What is it you want?  You have a message.  Hmmm.  You don’t look much like Western Union, or even UPS.  Where’s your big brown truck?  You don’t look like the sort to be bringing messages, and what’s wrong with using the mail service, like everyone else?  This message is too special to entrust to the mails?  Well, that’s not saying much, these days.

        I suppose you’re selling something.  You’re one of those door-to-door salesmen, aren’t you?  Boy, this time of year they try to get you coming and going.  What is it that you are dealing—an exotic perfume or some kind of new scent?  And that reminds me…who sent you, anyway?  Ha, ha, that was pretty good, don’t you think?  You’re probably selling some new gimmick or gimcrack or gizmo that I don’t need or want.

The Lord is with me.  Hmmm.  I don’t see anybody.  Have you got someone else out there with you?  Or do you just mean sort of esoterically, spiritually?  I do believe that I am close to God.  And goodness knows, I want to feel God’s presence and know he is with me.  I’d like some proof that God is with me, in my heart, you know.  Lower down?  What??  Now you just watch your tongue there, young man!  Comments like that could get you arrested.  You’re getting awful personal with me, and you don’t even know me.  No, you say, it’s just a message you’ve been sent to deliver.  Hmmm.

I’ve found favor with the Lord.  Well, now that’s real nice.  You tell him that I like him, too.  I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but I have lot’s to do in here.  If you just came to tell me to love the Lord with my whole heart and mind and strength, I couldn’t disagree with you, but I don’t think it’s going to sell real well.  You have to have more than that, you know.  Give away some free samples or something, that always works well.  Or maybe give out coupons or discounts.  You know, something like that to entice people.

No, you’re right, I don’t understand.  You’ve come to bring me a special message.  All right, let’s have it.  Blessed be the fruit of my broom?  What sort of a cock-eyed message is that?  I’ve got enough sweeping up to do as it is, I don’t need anything else to clean up.

Blessed be the fruit of my womb?!?  Now, watch it, buster!  There you go, talking dirty to me again, and me, just a plain, simple girl.  I think that might be grounds for sexual harassment charges.  You’d better be careful what you go around saying.  You aren’t making any sense to me.  Could you just tell me, straight out what you’ve come to tell me?

Oh….Yeh, that’s pretty clear all right.  Straight and simple.

You’re telling me that I’m going to have a baby. Mister, I don’t think you can do that sort of thing door-to-door.

You’re serious, aren’t you?  You really mean it.  How can it be?  It’s so crazy.  Why would I want to do that?

I’m no one special.  I’m just an ordinary, average, everyday sort of person; a simple, plain, UNMARRIED girl.  Why would God come to ME with this kind of message?  It’s too awesome, too scary, too wonderful to imagine!

Wow!  This must be some special sort of kid, to arrive this way!  It is?  Really?  What kind of special child is this?  Yes…yes…really?  …Jesus Christ!   That’s Magnificent!

Gosh, Mister, if what you say is true, if it really could be, why think of what it would mean?  It just proves that ANYTHING can happen, all things are possible with God, that miracles and amazing things DO happen.

Well, I guess you can tell your boss that he has himself a little mother.

        Am I scared?  No…yes…well, it is scary and people will talk, but how could I say no to God?  The future is so unknown, the next hour, the next day, the years to come are unseeable, but being with God, being filled with God’s spirit and promise changes my perspective on everything.  The ordinary becomes extraordinary and all things are now possible.  I sense hope and promise.  It’s going to be okay, isn’t it?

Please excuse me now.  I have to go tell Joe, he’ll never believe this!  Wow! 

Oh, and thank you.  ‘Bye.

  Luke 1:47-55-(Hymnal #199)