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The Gospel Proclamation
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, therefore the child to be born will be holy, He will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” ....
Prayerful Awareness
Mary is a virgin bethrothed to Joseph. At the time of annunciation, she would have been a teenage girl. Her mother Anne seems to have educated her about marriage, sexual relations and the resultant conception. This knowledge compels her to question the angel about the improbability of a conception since they have so far had no sexual relations. The angel replies that the conception is not going to be due to a physical contact with Joseph, but due to a spiritual contact. The Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most High will overshadow her. The child to be born will therefore be called the Son of God. Further to convince her of the probability of this conception, the angel said to her that nothing is impossible for God and as a sign the angel added that Elizabeth her relative who is advanced in age and is also called barren has already conceived through the mediation of the Holy Spirit.
Although Mary had doubts at the beginning of the conversation, she pondered over the trustworthiness of the word and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable her to have a virginal conception. Accordingly, she got over her doubts and submitted herself saying “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” When Mary accepted her lowliness and called herself the handmaid of the Lord, she is exalted to be the mother of the Lord. Mary is praised by Elizabeth for her belief which stands in contrast to the disbelief of her husband Zechariah when a similar announcement is made to him by the same angel. The Almighty God, Creator of man, heaven and earth is seeking the consent of His creation, this lowly handmaid to get her participation for the incarnation of Jesus, who thereby becomes Son of Man, and Son of God. Man possessed the power given by God to exercise his own free will. Accordingly, Mary exercised her free will and agreed to participate in God’s plan for the incarnation whereas Eve exercised her free will to disobey the creator God. Mary’s obedience reversed the evil of Eve’s disobedience.
Prayer Starter
Eve exercised her free will to disobey God in a trifle matter. Mary exercised her free will to obey God in a major issue exposing herself to public contempt and even death. Eve brought about our condemnation but Mary contributed to our salvation. Where do we stand in comparison to these two? Are we exercising the God given free will to disobey Him and aggravate our condemnation or to obey Him and consolidate our salvation? Jesus loved even those who crucified Him. All that we have to do is to love others including our enemies as we love ourselves. If we make up our mind to do this, the Holy Spirit is waiting to help us.
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