Our Advent text this week is Luke 1:26-38. It is the announcement of Gabriel to Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah. It’s really tough to stay out of the theological ditches as we think about Mary. There are some in Christian circles who worship her and pray to her. In reaction, there are some who wish we would ignore her. Protestants typically minimize Mary while Roman Catholics magnify her. I like what conservative evangelical scholar Dwight Pentecost wrote, “The mother merits all honor but her Son—our worship!” I think that is a biblically appropriate balance. Mary was an amazing young woman. At great cost, she became the mother of the Son of God! She said, “Yes” to God when many would have said, “No.” God picked her out of billions of women in history to receive this grace. We honor a lot of people for far less. Mary is worthy of respect, honor and imitation. Oh that more followers of her Son would say as she said, “Let it be to me according to your word.” On the other hand, Mary is not worthy of our worship. She was a sinner like all humans born under Adam. She acknowledged personally that she was in need of a Savior, (see Luke 1:47). Jesus made it quite clear one day that there are others that are blessed in addition to His mother. One day when Jesus was teaching a woman cried out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth…” Jesus did not disagree but He did not encourage such an idea, rather, He said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." (See Luke 11:27, 28) Jesus never taught us to pray to Mary, neither did the apostles. There are many people that are worthy of honor, Mary is one of them. Only God is worthy of our worship. That said, we are not in the clear if we have never worshipped Mary. The truth is we can allow other people, things, activities etc. to become objects of worship in our lives. Tim Keller wrote, “The heart is an idol factory.” So, we may not be amiss with regard to Mary but who else or what else might be garnering our attention, praise, worship, commitment and loyalty? We must be alert at all times for the “counterfeit gods” that try to sneak into our heart. Let’s honor Mary without worshipping her. Let’s honor Jesus Christ by worshipping Him and obeying Him as our only Savior and Lord.