The Annunciation

In the past we have spoken of how come only Simeon and Anna knew of the child Jesus’ presence in the Temple; because of their friendship with God. Lets reflect then, on Mary’s own relationship with God. An orphan, reared in the temple, she probably came to know a great many things from the priests. Reminds me of the Prophet/Judge Samuel, and if we take how his relationship progressed with Yahweh, we can say Mary’s own relationship with Yahweh, progressed and was refined and matured, similarly. Only against this can we see the Annunciation. Mary was personally acquainted with Yahweh, just like Samuel and she came to know God’s beating and bleeding heart. Otherwise for a young woman to be visited by angels and deity, the probably would be in a state of shock and mental denial. We see a precedent for this in the Old Testament, especially when the angel comes visiting Judge Samson’s Parents, they are average spiritually. And look at Zechariah’s own fumbling-bumbling interaction with the angel. Mary also was probably in prayer at the time of the Annunciation.

When this background is understood, it makes sense, everything that happens at the Annunciation. Here her Friend-God, is asking her permission, and explaining to her the mission and the process. She is troubled at what is being said, not by whom and on behalf of whom. It is not a one sided offer, it is for Mary to choose. And Mary is not dazed, nor at her wits end, by the appearance of the Angel, she is in her element, and she considers the proposal. She makes inquires of the proposal, and she is answered. Gabriel tells her of  how shhe would be filled by the Holy Spirit and her getting pregnant, as also that the Child is to be the long awaited Messiah. Mary now understands, but the Gabriel adds a sign for her to further accept the reality, “Elizabeth her cousin is already pregnant.” She who was called barren and of old age, is now pregnant – nothing is impossible for God. Mary did not really require the sign, because there was no doubt in her about God and His Goodness, she as an equal, in the friendship, had questioned only to understand the process, not leap into something blindly, and now she had clarity, as well as understood the difficulties she would have to go through. Mary’s immediate response, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

When we say the Angelus, it is this mystery along with the Incarnation that we reflect and mull upon. We do so, because God promises to extend His friendship to us – as He did to Mary. What is your response then…?