MORE THAN JUST A FAVOR
“And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” - Luke 1:28-30
“Can you do me a quick favor?”
When I hear the word favor, I always associate it with a give and take. Either someone is asking me for help or I need help, with the promise of giving something back in return. Even in my prayer life, I find myself bargaining with God to ask for favors, or even worse, feeling like I cannot entrust to God my worries and believing I should handle it myself because I cannot bear giving something up in return. Maybe it’s a product of living in a capitalism-fueled society, but I forgot the true meaning of the word favor. Upon a quick Google search, I found favor can mean anything from “a small gift or souvenir” to “an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual.” There isn't any mention of expecting payback. On the contrary, it can even mean preferential treatment.
In today’s Gospel reading, we hear God’s favor to Mary through the angel Gabriel, but I also hear that message passed onto us as her children in all meanings of the word. God gives us His favor, freely and fully. He gives us graces beyond what is due to us. He answers our prayers in small gifts like enjoying a leisurely walk in the evening with houses brightly shining with Christmas decorations to bigger presents of perhaps a community in our families and friends, gathering together over dinner. The grandest gift of all, however, is His only son, Jesus Christ, coming to us fully in less than a week on Christmas.
Despite this great gift, this wondrous favor from God, we are not asked for anything in return either. We can, however, freely favor others in this same spirit. To give without expecting anything back. Whether it’s helping those less fortunate, giving presents to loved ones, or even a kind hello and smile to someone walking by, we can share a reminder of God’s favor to others in our own actions. Most importantly, as we prepare in this Advent season, we can favor God in our prayers and thoughts. Not because we are reciprocating His favor for us, but because we want to favor and love God, no ulterior motive or anything. We can embrace and celebrate God’s favor by preparing our hearts to receive it fully, because it is more than just a simple favor, it is a beautiful gift from God.
Lord, thank you for favoring me each and every day. Help me open my heart to receive Your favor and share it with others with great love, freely and fully.
Kevin Nguyen
Photo credit: Pxhere