Mary, You Shall Bear A Son—Jesus
Introduction
The two beautiful texts of today correspond to each other as promise and fulfillment of the promise.
The child to be born of a young maiden as a sign of Israel’s salvation probably spoke directly of a son to be born to a king; yet, in later tradition and particularly in the Christian understanding, the text came to be understood as a messianic prophecy, which was fulfilled in Mary and the child born of her.
Also noteworthy is the spirit of the fulfillment. The incarnation of Christ was the beginning of a real turning upside-down of values, for example: salvation comes to the poor and humble, expresses itself in obedience and humble service, God’s power and majesty shows itself in his unostentatious approach to people, God becomes near to people.
Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14
The LORD spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!” Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.
Responsorial Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4AB, 5-6
R. (cf. 7c and 10b) Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers. R.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain. R.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob. R.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
O Key of David,
opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month, 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 favour 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.
Commentary
“Ask a sign.” King Ahaz in the eighth century BC is seriously troubled by the threat from the Assyrian Empire. The prophet exhorts him to ask for a sign of deliverance. He refuses. Nevertheless, a sign is given. The future birth of a special child will be a clear indication of God’s presence, as the child’s name itself will indicate. He will be Immanuel or “God with us.”
We have no clear indication of who this child promised to Ahaz was. It may well have been his own son, Hezekiah. But this was a prophecy that proved to have a life of its own. There was another time of deliverance that loomed on the horizon, and it came to rest on a humble house in Nazareth and a young girl with a heart open to God. Not only will the child she bears be the expected descendant of David but also the Son of God. It would be a case of “God with us” in a most singular and exceptional way. God himself was to walk the earthly journey, our companion in life, the One who would give his life for our salvation.
Ahaz refused to ask for a sign, but Mary does not hesitate to ask the meaning of the sign to be given her. It is a secret long hidden in the heart of God. The child to be born of Mary was to have God as father. Son of Mary and Son of God. But the consent of the young girl is required. What will it be?
A leap of faith into the unknown. Her response is a clear expression of the obedience of faith. Puzzling it undoubtedly was, but it is God who asks.
It so often happens in life. There are uncertainty, doubt, fear, and hesitation in the face of the seemingly impossible. It is obedience to which we are called time after time. Yet there is only one answer: Be it done to me according to your word.
Blessing
God keeps his promises. He is trustworthy and loving. Do we too keep our promises? May we become reliable and worthy of trust, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!