According to the Christian calendar, the Advent Season has begun. The Season of Advent is comprised of the 4 Sundays and weeks leading up to the celebration of the Birth of Christ.  This particular season is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Christ's birth.  Just like the Israelites waited with great expectation for their coming Savior, you and I have periods in our lives when we are waiting with great expectation for something.  Sometimes its a change we need in our lives, at other times it may be a change in us that we are desperately expecting.  And the reality is that no matter what may be going on in our lives it's good to recognize God's favor working in our lives!

 

We see from Mary's encounter with the Angel Gabriel that God's favor is at work around us and very often we can't recognize it.  However, our text helps us identify when the favor of God is working in our lives.