Megabit 29 — April 07

The Best News Ever! (The Annunciation)

Today is one of the happiest days of the whole year. It is the great feast of the Annunciation. "Annunciation" (say it: ah-nun-see-AY-shun) is a big word that simply means "the good news was announced." In our church it is also called Bisrate Gabriel, which means "the good news of Gabriel."

Long ago in a little town called Nazareth, there lived a kind and holy young woman named Mary, who loved God with her whole heart. One day God sent the angel Gabriel to visit her. Angels are God's messengers from heaven, and Gabriel is one of the greatest of them.

Gabriel came to Mary with a beautiful greeting. At first she was surprised, but the angel told her not to be afraid. Then he gave her the best news anyone has ever heard: Mary was going to be the mother of a very special baby. That baby would be Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the whole world.

Mary asked the angel how this could be, since she was not yet married. Gabriel told her the Holy Spirit would make it happen, for nothing is impossible with God. Then Mary said yes to God with a happy, trusting heart. Because she said yes, the Son of God came to live among us. That is why this day is called "the first-born of all feasts." It is where the saving of the whole world began.

Rejoice, O full of grace, God is with thee. Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.— The angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1)

Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me as you have said.— Mary's answer (Luke 1)

A Day of New Life

There is even more good news on this day. Long after the Annunciation, this same day of Megabit 29 became the day our Lord Jesus rose from the grave, His holy Resurrection.

Jesus loved us so much that He chose to give His life for us. And then, on this very day, He rose again, alive and full of light. Because Jesus rose, we know that those who love God will live with Him forever. Sheol (say it: SHE-ol) was the dark place where people waited, and Jesus opened it up and set them free. So on Megabit 29 we hold two great gifts together: the day Jesus began to come to us, and the day He rose to bring us new life. Both are full of hope.

Saint Paul, the Brave Teacher

On this day we also remember Saint Paul the apostle. Jesus sent out the apostles as His special teachers, to tell the world about Him, and Paul traveled to many faraway cities, sharing the good news of Jesus with everyone he met.

On this day Paul finished his teaching in a faraway city. He had spent his whole life telling people how much God loves them. Now his work on earth was done, and he went home to be with the God he loved so much. We thank God for brave Saint Paul, who never stopped sharing the good news.

Remembering Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Last of all, the church gives a happy greeting today to three of God's oldest and most faithful friends: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They lived long, long ago, grandfathers and great-grandfathers who trusted God and followed Him.

They belonged to the same big family that Jesus was born into. So on this glad feast day, we say a loving "hello and thank you" to these three good men who walked with God.