Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee. But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.
Luke 1:26-30
Cheating a little with this Daily Moment... as we celebrate the Annunciation tomorrow (Friday), not today. There was a time when the Annunciation was among the most depicted Scriptural moments in the art of the Christian West. Even with the Annunciation on tomorrow’s calendar, it’s worth taking an extra day to celebrate this profound event in Christian – and human - history.
In this moment God comes among us. Not by coming in glory down some celestial staircase, but in the womb of a girl from a village in a provincial backwater of the Roman Empire. True, his coming is announced by an angel, but both the message-bearer and his words “greatly trouble” the young girl. Our God comes to heal and to restore his creation by entering his creation in the most human and vulnerable way possible, as an unborn child. There in Nazareth, on a day when we can already imagine the sun’s light beginning to bake the adobe walls of Mary’s home, the God who created us comes alongside our poverty and our weakness, our uncertainties, and our fears, as acknowledged to the angel messenger by his mother-to be.
“How can this be?” she asks.
As the apostle Paul will later assure us: “The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” Here in Nazareth, God entrusts his plan of salvation to the hands of a brand new mother. Yes, this girl faces the disruption, the risks, and the fear – as well as the promise - that always come with radically new beginnings. But there are two more statements that leap from this story, that echo from the village of Nazareth and resound with assurance throughout time and the human story.
The angel says: “Do not be afraid, Mary: for you have found favor with God”. Do not be afraid. Young, likely poor, only betrothed but not yet married, Mary is told not to be afraid. She is blessed with the gift of the perfect love of God, uniquely so as a participant in his salvation story. And so she responds from her vulnerability with unbounded trust: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answers. “May it happen to me according to your word.”
The story of the Annunciation is a story of God offering us perfect love that can drive out fear. It is a story of uncertainty taking new shape as belief – belief that can carry us through the unknown and even through suffering. Mary faces her road ahead with a holy serenity and confidence that comes not from anything she possesses, but from a willingness to desire what God desires.
Some have called the Annunciation the pivot point of the human story. The Incarnation begins here. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we still see his glory.
Yep, the Annunciation is worth an extra Daily Moment. Do not be afraid. Emmanuel – God with us – begins here.
God bless you!
Richard (and Catherine)
