Welcome to our service. You can find the reading and reflection below:

Luke 1:26-45

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.

32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ 34 Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’35 The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.’ 38 Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

I’m not sure how many people notice this, but when you read scripture, there are many references to ancestors. "The City of David." " The House of Jacob."

I wonder if anyone here has traced their family tree back a few generations?

Some of the people I know who have done this are pleased to discover connections to someone famous, wealthy, or even royal.

With a name like Baker, it’s pretty clear what someone in my ancestry likely did for a job. As far as I know, my ancestors left Scotland, Ireland, and England because they were, at the time, horrible places to live.

One of the things I’ve learned, especially when stepping onto a marae, is how profoundly Māori culture honours ancestry. Whakapapa often connects people back through multiple generations. Being able to recite your whakapapa doesn’t just provide a sense of history and identity; it ties you to the rivers and mountains of your ancestors. It links you across whānau, hapū, and iwi. And if you trace your whakapapa far enough, you find you’re related to everyone!

This concept of whakapapa resonates with the emphasis scripture places on ancestry and origins. In scripture, history and lineage—who your parents were—matter deeply. Imagine living in a world where your name included whose child you were. Jesus, for instance, would have been known as Yeshua ben Yosef—Jesus, son of Joseph, the carpenter’s son.

Even in our own community, this idea isn’t a foreign idea. Think about the land owned by families like the Lanes, the Munros, the Shaws, the Alexanders, or the Atchisons. These names carry stories of connection and belonging.

When we read the opening chapters of Matthew and Luke, we find detailed genealogies tracing Jesus’ ancestry back through many generations. These aren’t just lists of names—they’re there for a reason.

While we often focus on the future for solutions to our challenges, Hebrew thought teaches us to look to the past. The answers to life’s questions are found in remembering—the promises God made to our ancestors.

In modern times, we often assume progress and innovation hold the key to solving our problems. But imagine a world where the answers have already been revealed - in the stories of God’s enduring promises.

One thing we all have in common is that either we or our ancestors came from somewhere else to be here—in New Zealand, in Aotearoa.

Whether by canoe or jet plane, we , or our ancestors set out with hope, a promise, and a vision for something better.

It’s a big idea. Let’s be great ancestors. The choices and sacrifices made by those before us weren’t just for themselves; they were also for us. Our lives are a fulfilment of their hopes. Our hopes are fulfilled in the lives of those to come.

And in scripture, we see that you and I are part of the fulfilment of God’s promises to those who came before us.

Consider today’s reading:

“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.”

The angel said to Mary: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.”

Let’s pause on that phrase: “Do not be afraid.”

Remember when the angel would say those words again? At the empty tomb. After God had raised Jesus from the dead.

“Do not be afraid.” Something extraordinary is happening. Something that changes everything.

Mary is going to give birth to Jesus, the Son of God. “Do not be afraid.”

The tomb is empty, giving birth to the risen Son of God. “Do not be afraid.”

And then the angel says: “Mary, you have found favour with God.”

The word “found” comes from the Greek heurekos—eureka.

Mary wasn’t searching for this. It was a shocking, unexpected discovery. We don’t “find” God’s grace as though it were lost; it surprises us.

And what does Mary find? Favour. In Greek, the word is charis. It also translates as grace or kindness.

Mary was astonished by God’s grace. And through her, we discover that God is mindful of us too. We have a place in this history of grace and favour. Eureka!

The angel continues:

“You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David, and his kingdom will have no end.”

All these references to ancestors.

For the Jewish audience hearing these words, these references, they would resonate deeply. They’d remember stories like Hannah’s—a woman who, after years of childlessness, gave birth to Samuel. Samuel, who anointed David as king.

And they’d recall God’s promise to David:

“Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.”

Over a thousand years of stories—all connected. Eureka moments of discovering God’s presence and plan.

And today, we see the spirit of God poured out again—this time, on Mary:

“How can this be?” Mary asks.

Her question is much bigger than biology. She’s asking, “How can it be that I, a young, low-status woman from an obscure village, could play a key role in fulfilling God’s promises?”

Paul would remind us that there is a scandal at the heart of our faith.

 A virgin mother. A crucified Messiah. God’s ways often upend our expectations.

This is the history we’re invited into—a history where God’s grace and kindness surprise us, over and over. Where new life emerges from emptiness. A virgin’s womb. An empty tomb.

Even in disruption and doubt, even with the burdens we carry, even with all our experiences and worry, something breaks through -  there is this eureka moment.  God’s surprising ways revealing the fulfilment of ancient promises.

So today, we stand with Mary. A young woman from a small, unknown town who said yes to God.

And we say,

“Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”

Amen.