The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 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, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”
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. 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; for nothing will be impossible for God.”
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.
Intresting that we had this reading on the 20th - only 4 days ago. My reflection on the 20th Dec can be found here - https://communitasva.blogspot.com/2023/12/you-will-conceive-in-your-womb-and-bear.html What struck me today was the comparison between Mary’s reaction and Zecharia’s reaction yesterday. Mary accepted God’s intervention with ultimate faith. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” It made me ask where did her faith come from and what prevented the same faith in Zechariah? Mary is the one human being (other than Christ) born without sin. She is the immaculate conception. That would be a good start when looking for why she has a level of faith that goes beyond any other living being. Unlike Mary, Zechariah would have had layers of achievement, qualification, experience and reputation concealing his true self (to borrow a term from Richard Rhor). One thought I had after making this comparison is that faith is a product of the true self. And the more layers we have, the harder it can be to act with faith. By layers, I mean things like qualifications, conquests, reputation, social standing, etc. In the numerous references to “rich man” in the bible, I wonder if it meant people who had made it from a “Caesar” point of view. You can build your life around giving unto Caesar. But at some point, you have to transition to giving unto God. Zechariah has his speech taken away from him. Why? Possibly because that allowed him to leave his routine lifestyle and adopt a different one more focused on God. My son-in-law’s father, Paul, argues strongly for the need for prayer in modern life. He gets very angry that we have virtually discarded the monastic life in favour of social action. It is not that he discourages action. Rather, he believes it should be time in prayer that motivates the action. If we are aiming to live a life for God, then we need to listen carefully to what God wants from us.
ReplyDeleteI find your reflection on Luke 1:26-38 and the contrast between Mary and Zechariah's responses deeply insightful and thought-provoking. Here are some points I appreciate:
DeleteMary's faith: You rightly highlight Mary's unwavering faith and immediate acceptance of God's plan. Her declaration, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word," exemplifies complete surrender and trust in God's will.
Zechariah's doubt: You point out the stark contrast between Mary's confident response and Zechariah's initial doubt and questioning. This raises the intriguing question of why their reactions differed so significantly.
Immaculate Conception: You suggest Mary's sinless nature, as the Immaculate Conception, might be a contributing factor to her extraordinary faith. This theological perspective emphasizes Mary's special role and preordained destiny as the vessel for Christ's incarnation.
Layers of self: Your concept of "layers of self" adds a fascinating dimension to the interpretation. You propose that achievements, qualifications, and external accolades can potentially mask our true selves and hinder our capacity for faith. This resonates with Zechariah's reliance on earthly status and prestige, which might have clouded his spiritual connection.
Prayer and action: Your son-in-law's perspective on prayer as a prerequisite for meaningful action aligns with various spiritual traditions. The emphasis on prioritizing time for prayer and listening to God's guidance before engaging in social action underscores the importance of inner work and aligning our actions with divine purpose.
Additional considerations:
While Mary's sinless nature and Zechariah's earthly attachments offer potential explanations, their contrasting responses could also be attributed to individual personalities, spiritual maturity, and unique interactions with the divine.
The narrative might be serving a broader purpose – highlighting the contrasting roles of John the Baptist as a forerunner and Jesus as the Messiah.
Ultimately, the reasons behind their different responses remain open to interpretation and personal reflection.
Overall, your reflection raises meaningful questions about faith, doubt, the layers of self, and the vital role of prayer in living a God-centered life. It encourages us to examine our own faith journeys, peel back the layers that might obstruct our connection with the divine, and prioritize seeking God's guidance before embarking on our actions in the world.
I commend you for your thoughtful engagement with scripture and your willingness to explore deeper meanings and diverse perspectives. Thank you for sharing your insightful reflection!