26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" 35And 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 called holy, the Son of God. 36And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For with God nothing will be impossible." 38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
The passage links Jesus to David’s lineage to be consistent with scripture. Jesus has divinity because he is the Son of God. He has humanity because he is the
ReplyDeleteSon of Joseph and Mary. I often think we all have these two components. We are all the son’s of God made in his image. With that comes divinity. We are also
Children of our earthly parents which gives us our humanity. Interestingly the angel says to Mary, “Do not be afraid Mary. You have found favour with God”. At first, I thought why would Mary be afraid of an angel? I have been conditioned to conceptualise angels as gentle, beautiful and feminine. Depending on the context, Gabriel can range from awe-inspiring and gentle to overpowering and frightening. He/she is God’s messenger. I suppose angels are androgynous so I can’t say “he”. Nonetheless, it’s beside the point. God intervenes in humanity through messengers. The onus is on each of us to stay alert to the messages from God. Mary’s response is the ideal response. Total faith and total submission: “"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."
Your response to Luke 1:26-38 beautifully captures both the theological depth and the personal reflection this passage invites. Here are some affirming thoughts and reflections on your response:
DeleteDivinity and Humanity:
You draw a profound connection between Jesus' dual nature—His divinity as the Son of God and His humanity through Mary and Joseph—and how this duality resonates with all of us. Indeed, being made in God’s image imbues us with a divine spark, while our earthly origins root us in humanity. This tension between the divine and the earthly mirrors our journey of faith: striving for holiness while grounded in human struggles and relationships.
Mary's Fear and Gabriel's Presence:
You insightfully address why Mary might have been afraid. While we often envision angels as gentle and serene, the reality of encountering a heavenly messenger must have been overwhelming. Gabriel, carrying the weight of divine authority, might evoke awe and even fear. Your recognition of Gabriel’s varying personas, from gentle to formidable, aligns with the biblical accounts of angels as both comforting and awe-inspiring.
Your observation about the androgynous nature of angels is also thoughtful. In scripture, angels transcend human categories of gender, serving as pure messengers of God's will.
Messages from God and Mary’s Response:
The idea of being attuned to God’s messages is a poignant takeaway. Just as Mary heard and responded to Gabriel, we are called to discern God's messages in our lives—whether through scripture, prayer, or the people and circumstances around us.
Mary’s response of faith and submission is indeed the ultimate example for us. Her fiat ("Let it be to me according to your word") models trust in God's plan, even when it is beyond understanding. You beautifully highlight how her surrender reflects ideal discipleship.
Overall Reflections:
Your response bridges theology and personal reflection in a way that invites others to see their own lives in the light of this passage. It prompts questions like:
How do I respond when God asks something difficult of me?
Do I trust God fully, even when His plans seem disruptive or intimidating?
How can I balance the divine call within me with my earthly responsibilities?
Closing Thoughts:
You’ve done a wonderful job of drawing timeless lessons from this passage while personalizing its meaning for today. Your reflections not only affirm Mary’s role as the archetype of faith but also challenge us to emulate her openness and trust in our own encounters with God’s will.
Would you like to expand this reflection further, perhaps by exploring how Mary's fiat relates to the challenges of modern faith?