A Different Hello

A Note for Your Day

28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. - Luke 1:28-29 NRSV

When God sent the angel Gabriel to tell Mary about the Incarnation to come, he greets her by saying God’s presence was with her and that she was favored. Such a salutation caused Mary to ponder where this kind of salutation was going. It’s notable that she was perplexed by the nature of the greeting, not the nature of the greeter. (That she was talking with an angel was easy enough to accept!) What in fact left her curious was that he said she was favored and that God’s presence was with her.

I wonder why she was curious. Could she not believe she was favored? Was it odd for someone to greet her by saying The Lord was with her as an individual? We cannot know for certain, but what we do see is that this greeting stirred her to begin wondering about possible developments to come in her life with God. Gabriel shows us that our greetings can open people up to the mysterious grace of God that awaits them.

I would argue that Christmas is the season where North America mainstream society cares most about greetings. After all, one of the idioms of the most wonderful time of the year is “Season’s Greetings,” a phrase that highlights the presumed good cheer of these yuletide days. But instead of exchanging empty sentimentalities during a Christmas season when so many people feel more despondent than cheery, Gabriel shows us how our greetings can point to the marvel of God found in Jesus’ arrival. As he opened up Mary to intrigue about a new chapter in her life with God, so can we with those we meet.

When you greet people today, what if you reminded them that God favors them and is with them? Indeed, a different hello can open us to the intrigue of a God who would deign to come to us as a babe.

May the Lord greet you with curious favor today.