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Throughout Christian tradition, Mary has been
esteemed for her role as Jesus' mother. Many people have shown great
reverence to her because of her role and many still do. However, this
devotion has also caused misunderstandings about her role in God's salvation
plan. Because she has this important part to play in salvation's history,
being the pivotal person, in God's plan, some have given her divine honor.
However, Mary is human and should be appreciated in her humanness. The angel
did say that she is "full of grace," that is, full of God's favor, God's
life. This state of grace is what all Christians seek through how they live.
Mary is a witness to us of how to live in the grace of the Lord.
Mary was not a passive participant in all this.
She had to decide if this visit of the angel was real. She had to discern
quickly how all of this would happen because of her virginity. She had to
wonder what would happen to her since she would be pregnant before she was
married and surely she would be in trouble according to Judaic laws because
the pregnancy was not by her fiancée. For each hesitation and question the
angel spoke for God. "Do not be afraid…The Holy Spirit will come upon you
and the power of the most high will overshadow you…And behold, Elizabeth is
with child in her old age…for nothing is impossible with God." The most
astounding thing in this story is Mary's fiat, her yes to the
words of the angel. What follows for her is a life of joys and sorrows that
call upon her to have a secure faith that assures her that "nothing is
impossible with God." Again, I need to make the point that Mary was not a
passive receptor in this, but actively gave her human consent through faith.
In the years that follow, her faith would be reaffirmed as she watched her
son grow in wisdom and grace. Perhaps Jesus learned how to trust God because
of Mary's witness of faith as he grew in the awareness of his identity and
mission.
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