"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38)
Luke chapter 1:26-38 describe about the appearance of the Lord's angel to Virgin Mary.
The verse I quoted above is the response of Mary to the angel of the Lord concerning the great message the angel brought from God. Our response to the message of God is very important. God is interested in our response to His word spoken to us. Therefore let's see how beautiful responese Virgin Mary made to the message of God which the angel spoke to her.
Who is Mary?
I don't know much about Mary, but what I know for sure about her is that she was a virgin woman who was pledged to be married to a certain man named Josehp as the Bible itself says, ( Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:34). Mary had not been a legal wife of Josehp at the time, just pledged situation to be married soon or not.
What is the message the angel of God brought to Mary?
The book of the Gospel Luke describe that it was to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, where the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary with a great and surprising message. The message was about the virgin Mary would conceive and gave birth to a son. The message might be merely simple to a wife who is with her husband. But as for Mary, being a virgin, was a very surprising message and probably scornful message. Imagine, as being a virgin woman, what would be your response to such a message?
Mary's response to the message of God
As mentioned above, Mary was a virgin woman who was pledged to be married to Josehp, and the message brought by the angel of the Lord to her is that she would conceive and gave birth to a son. Imagine, being as virgine, what would be your response to such a message? I believe, as for Mary also, it was not easy to accept. She would be despised, scorned, insulted by the people at those time, disowned by even her relatives because, as for a damsel or a woman who is not with a husband, to be pregnant is a shameful behavior. Despite these shamefully disgusted behaviour Mary chose to be insulted, disowned and despised for God, and in order that God's purpose for the world might be fulfilled through her. Put yourself in the place of Mary and imagine what you would be your response? God is interested in your response to His word.
Mary was a pledged woman to be married to Joaeph. The wedding ceremony might be celebrated soon or later. Imagine how Mary would feel when the angel of the Lord said to her that she would be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. I believe Mary would think first of her relationship with Joseph who would be her legal husband soon when she heard such a surprising message from the angel of the Lord. Mary might know that the message would break her relationship with Joseph. How a difficult decision for Mary to make! But as God doesn't want us to love anything alse more than him, Mary chose to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit ,saying "may your word to me be fulfilled" without fearing of breaking her relationship with her beloved Joseph. What would be your choice if you were Mary?
Remember God is a jealous God who is jealous of us when we love something, including our husband, more than Him.
- As I have mentioned above, Mary was a virgin who never slept with a man. By nature it is impossible that a virgin woman conceive and give birth to a son. It is sure that Mary aslo knew that a virgin woman can not conceive and give birth to a son. That is why she asked the angel, " How will this be, since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34). But Mary's final reply to the angel of the Lord is worth imitating, " I am the Lord's servant, may your word to me be fulfilled,"(Luke 1:38). Mary humbly submitted her herself to the Lord, claiming to be the servant of the Lord, believing in His Omnipotence. Mary trust in the Lord for the things which are impossible for people by nature.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us imitate the life of Mary and live for God alone, love Him more than anything alse in the world and trust in His Omnipotence.
Thank you for reading
God bless you all!
