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Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38
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.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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There’s an old saying, “Hindsight is 20/20.”
Looking back, often we see that life has a funny way of working out; that God does provide for us in our hour of need; that our prayers do, in fact, make a difference.
Remembering what God has already done helps us to believe that God will provide again.
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In today’s Gospel, Mary is faced with uncertainty. While she has plans to marry Joseph, it seems all of this is now thrown into question as the angel Gabriel reveals to her that she will, “conceive and bear a son.”
Much like when something unexpected happens to us, Mary becomes afraid. “How could this be,” she asks, “since I have no relations with a man?”
Mary is not meant to understand the full meaning of her life – or her future – for now. She will understand it with hindsight, but for now she’s called to trust.
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Notice how Gabriel soothes her heart. He points to the past, telling Mary about what God has already done.
“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.”
If God has already done miraculous things, then Mary can trust that God will act again.
Looking to the past allows her to embrace her uncertain future. “Let it be done unto me,” she says, “according to your word.”
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Like Mary, we all face an uncertain future. Perhaps some of us are more aware of that than others, but this Gospel reminds all of us to recall the faithfulness of God.
If God has so richly provided for us already, then why should we fear the days to come?
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Whatever our future holds, may we say confidently with Mary, “Let it be done unto me according to your word.”
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Image credits: (1) Wisdom Quotes (2) Annunciation, Fra Angelico (3) stephencuyos.com, Pinterest
