'In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 35 And the angel said to her in reply, “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 called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God.” 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.'
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God introduced the key figure in man’s salvation. First, there was the immaculate conception of Mary, then John the precursor to Jesus, and now the incarnation of Jesus. All were born into small obscure towns as helpless human beings totally dependent on ordinary, righteous human parents to raise extraordinary children who would say yes to God and reconcile mankind with God. John was born to parents too old to conceive normally, and Jesus was born to a young virgin who conceived without intercourse and was too young to understand what was happening to her.
When Gabriel greeted 12-year-old Mary (v. 28) she was troubled and pondered the greeting (v. 29). Gabriel explained the improbable events that would happen to her (vv. 30-33). Mary asked the same question as Zechariah, how (v. 34; v. 18)? Gabriel’s answer seemed impossible, but the angel reassured her, “Nothing will be impossible for God (v. 37).” After Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth had also conceived a son in her old age Mary accepted what Gabriel told her. Mary’s complete obedience and abandonment to God’s will (v. 38) is the response God wants from everyone who takes up his cross (Mt. 10:38).
Almighty God, grant us the grace to abandon ourselves to your will and say yes to the tasks you ask us to do. Help us to see the miracles that occur in our lives so that moved by your love we may live for your greater glory. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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