The Angel's Conversation With Mary
A. "I don't understand"
1. The angle Gabriel: "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." (26-28)
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
2. Mary: “……………” (29)
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
B. "How can this happen?"
1. The angel Gabriel: "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son." (30-33)
30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.
31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
2. Mary: "How will this be since I am a virgin?" (34)
34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
C. "May it be to me as you have said"
1. The angel Gabriel: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God...For nothing is impossible with God." (35-37)
35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.
37 For nothing is impossible with God."
2. Mary: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." (38)
38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Summary
Can you imagine accepting a situation like Mary's? Mary's heart was being prepared by the Holy Spirit and because of this, she was able to take in the news of this extraordinary, and even troubling, event. The Gospels show that Mary did not fully understand God's plan, and it was only through the cross and resurrection that she truly understood who Jesus was.
For Discussion
1) Why was Mary able to accept her situation?
2) Please share an experience where you accepted or were unable to accept something unexpected that God brought into your life.