Maria lives in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee which lies in a remote corner of Israel, bordering a pagan region. She is engaged to Joseph, who is of the house of David. Suddenly, she receives a visit from the archangel Gabriel. Maria is addressed with “Kecharitomene” which means “full of divine grace”. Maria is then full of grace.
The angel says to Her, that the Lord is with Her. Mary is startled by what is happening to Her and wonders what it means. The angel says to Mary, that She need not fear and that She has found favour with God. The angel also tells Mary that She will become pregnant and bring a Son into the world, whom She must name Jesus. The angel Gabriel also says that her Son will become great and will be called the Most High. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will never end.
It is far from clear for Mary and she wonders how this can happen, as she is not intimate with any man. The angel reassures her, saying that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most High will overshadow her. What Mary brings into the world will be called holy, the Son of God. Mary responds by saying: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. The angel then departs. All of this is recorded by the evangelist Luke.
The texts of the evangelist Luke in the New Testament read:
Lucas 1:26 – De aartsengel Gabriël wordt door God gezonden naar de stad Nazareth in Galilea.
Luke 1:27 – The angel goes to a Virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
Luke 1:28 – The angel says to Mary: Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you. You are blessed among women.
Luke 1:29 – When Mary saw the angel, she was greatly troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
Luke 1:30 – The angel tells Mary not to be afraid, because she has found favour with God.
Luke 1:31 – The angel says even more, namely that Mary will become pregnant and give birth to a Son named Jesus.
The angel continues: the Child will be great and be called the Son of the Most High, and God will give him the throne of his father David.
Luke 1:33 - Then the angel says to Mary, that Jesus will be King over the house of Jacob, and this forever and to his Kingdom there will be no end.
Luke 1:34 – Mary asks the angel how this can be, as she has no relations with a man.
Luke 1:35 – The angel replies that the Holy Spirit will come upon Her and the power of the Most High will overshadow Her, and by this the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:36 – The angel tells Mary that her cousin Elizabeth is also pregnant with a son and at an advanced age. It is the 6th month for her, who was called barren.
Lucas 1:37 – The angel adds that nothing is impossible with God.
Luke 1:38 – Then Mary said to the angel, that She is the Servant of the Lord and that according to the angel's words, it will be done to Her. After this, the angel left.
What is described by Luke deserves some explanation regarding the context in which the angel's visit takes place:
Maria is a young girl of 12 or 13 years old and she is engaged to Joseph, an older man.
– Mary lives in Nazareth, a place of no importance that is looked down upon by people.
– From God’s choice, it appears that the ordinary is not beneath Him. God chooses Mary deliberately. This signifies hope for people who consider themselves inferior or too ordinary. God sends the angel to a very simple young woman, and this gives encouragement to Mary and others if they see themselves as far from important. Mary, a simple, humble, inferior, very ordinary woman, is the most blessed among women.
– From the angel’s words, it is evident that God knows Mary and that she will become the bearer of God’s grace. Because of this, Mary is chosen by God.
– Mary is confused by the angel's words. It turns out she is quite upset. Because of this, Mary needs some time to take in the angel's words. Yet, just before the angel departs, she says she is the Lord's servant and that what the angel has said will come to pass.
– In fact, the angel doesn't give Mary time to think for long about her Child.
It is not Mary, the Mother, who decides what her Child will be called. The name is Jesus, it is told to her by the angel. This name is the Greek name for the Hebrew Joshua.
– The angel gives Mary further instructions. Jesus is named the Son of the Most High. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit will conceive a Child in her womb. There is no mention of conception here. The Child will be King over the house of David. Through this, her Child will fulfil promises from the Old Testament, because the promised King is coming. From this, it follows that Mary has no control over her Son's profession and future. In short, She has no influence on what Jesus will become.
It slowly dawns on Mary that her Child is the long-awaited Messiah.
– Maria is going to get pregnant, while she is not yet married and this could cause shame.
Maria is given a particularly great task, one which she did not ask for. She submits herself to it as a servant. Her life will be dedicated to a very special child, who will grow to be very great.
Maria shows trust in and awe of God.
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The Byzantine monk Theophanes the Confessor, who lived from c. 760 to c. 818, was a theologian and historian. He speaks of Mary as a lamp with many lights.
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There once was a rhyme made, that's sung to the tune of “Frère Jacques”. The lyrics are:
“Hi Maria, hi Maria.
Don't be afraid, don't be afraid.
You're getting a lovely child,
Here's a lovely song for you.
Son of God, Son of God.”
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On 25th March, exactly nine months before Christmas, Mary receives a visit from the Archangel Gabriel. On 25th March Mary conceives, and on 25th December She gives birth to her Son.
