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.
Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist (Luke 1:24-25), and the "sixth month" refers to the stage of her pregnancy, establishing a chronological connection between John and Jesus. The angel Gabriel, one of God's chief messengers (Daniel 8:16; 9:21), is sent to deliver a divine message to Mary, a poor and humble young girl from Nazareth, an obscure and seemingly insignificant village. This setting underscores God’s preference for the humble and lowly to accomplish His purposes (cf. 1 Samuel 16:7). Mary’s virginity signifies her purity and fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, which foretold that a virgin would conceive and bear a son.
Gabriel’s greeting emphasizes the unique role Mary will play in salvation history. The term "favored one" implies that Mary has been uniquely and permanently graced by God. The phrase "The Lord is with you" echoes Old Testament assurances to figures chosen for significant missions, such as Moses (Exodus 3:12) and Gideon (Judges 6:12), indicating Mary’s forthcoming divine vocation.
The angel announces that Mary will conceive a son naturally within her womb through the miraculous action of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing Jesus' full humanity. The promise of a child ties in with Isaiah 9:6-7, which foretells a son who will establish peace and justice. The name Jesus (Iēsous in Greek, derived from Yehoshua in Hebrew) means "Yahweh is salvation." In some instances in the Old Testament, God directly names or renames individuals to signify their role in salvation history (e.g., Abram to Abraham in Genesis 17:5).
The prophetic description of Jesus reveals his absolute and unparalleled greatness, rooted in his identity as the eternal Son of God and his mission as the Savior of the world, surpassing all who came before him. He is directly linked to the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16), where God promises David his lineage will establish an everlasting kingdom. While his mission begins with the chosen people of God (the house of Jacob), his reign will ultimately encompass all nations and endure forever, fulfilling the vision of Daniel 7:14.
Mary’s question reflects her awareness of her virginity and differs from Zechariah’s skeptical question (Luke 1:18). While Zechariah doubted the possibility of God’s promise, Mary’s query demonstrates faith seeking understanding, showing her openness to God’s mysterious plan. The angel replies by describing the divine means by which Mary will conceive. In the Old Testament, the Spirit often "comes upon" individuals to empower them for God’s purposes, such as the judges and prophets (Judges 14:6; 1 Samuel 10:10). Here, however, the Spirit's action is unprecedented, as it brings about the Incarnation, the union of divine and human nature in Jesus. The term “overshadow” recalls the cloud of God’s glory that overshadowed the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Ex. 40:34-35) and the cloud that appeared at the Transfiguration of Jesus (Luke 9:34).
Gabriel reveals that Mary’s relative, Elizabeth, who was previously barren and beyond childbearing years, has conceived a son and is six months pregnant. This serves as a sign of God’s power to accomplish the impossible and strengthens Mary’s faith in the promise of her own miraculous conception. God’s power is not constrained by human limitations.
Mary’s fiat, or consent, exemplifies perfect faith and obedience, making her the model of discipleship. Her self-identification as the "handmaid of the Lord" reflects humility and trust, paralleling Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 1:11.
Almighty God, we thank You for the gift of Mary’s faith and her humble "yes" to Your plan. May her example inspire us to trust in Your promises and surrender to Your will. Help us to welcome Your Son, Jesus, into our hearts and to proclaim His greatness by our lives. Strengthen us with the grace of Your Spirit that we may follow where You lead, knowing that nothing is impossible for You.
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- 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. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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