Third Sunday in Advent: When Mary Became Mary

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting. So the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?” The angel replied, “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 holy; he will be called the Son of God. “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age—although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! For nothing will be impossible with God.” So Mary said, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Luke 1:26-38

On Immaculate Conception Day, my Catholic friends pause to honor the day Gabriel visited the young virgin Mary and spoke the words that would change her life and ours forever.

This year, as I walked around the quiet streets, shop doors closed in reverence, the thought came to me, This is the day Mary became Mary. It seemed worthy of pausing and noticing. As a Protestant, I did not pause and notice Mary much growing up, other than her uncomfortable ride on a donkey, the birth in a stable, and her insistence years later that Jesus turn water into wine.

But this Christmas, the thought occurred to me like a bubble rising to the top of my glass of sparkling water: I wonder when each of us became who we are?

We are completely known by God, even before one of the days of our lives comes about. But on one of those particular days, the whole trajectory of our lives can change in the direction of His plans for us, if we will but accept His invitation. Mary did just that, in a way most humans can relate: with fear, trembling, overthinking, and a deep need for reassurance and patience from the Inviter.

I don’t know exactly what Mary was doing on the day Gabriel appeared, but Scripture does tell us she was engaged to be married. She had a plan that was well-rehearsed in her culture. She was firmly on a journey many before her had taken. It is fair to say that Mary was on a predictable path when the predicted yet unbelievable happened.

The coming of the Messiah had been predicted, but not like this. Isn’t that how transformation often happens?

Mary responded to the unexpected the way most of us do: with fear. Her mind immediately began trying to figure out what was happening and why. Sound familiar? God shows up in an uncomfortable way, and we overthink it, completely skipping over the good news in the greeting: You are favored, and the Lord is with you!

But, contrary to messages that chide us to never be afraid, we are, and God knows it. He is kind and merciful to us, and addresses the reality of fear head-on. He even repeats the good news we missed the first time around when fear was blinding us and knocking our knees together so loudly we couldn’t quite hear the promise.

Don’t be afraid. You are beloved. You are valued by God!

Gabriel explained to Mary what was going to happen. We don’t all get such a clear message, but we do receive desires and hopes dropped into our hearts by God Himself, and then He gives us the power to persevere, wait, and obey until they come to fruition in our lives.

Sometimes, He even builds our faith by showing us His power in the lives of those we love, against all odds. This just might have been the final, personal sign of God’s goodness that Mary needed to say yes to Him.

And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age—although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! For nothing will be impossible with God.

The fact that Mary ran to Elizabeth shortly after Gabriel’s visit makes me wonder if they were close. I wonder if Mary had been walking that long road of disappointment with her friend-relative, and Gabriel’s words broke through a sorrow Mary herself had been helping Elizabeth carry. In any case, Mary said yes!

Mary became Mary that day. When she said the words “Let it be done to me according to Your word,” the seal was sealed.

I wonder what moment in my life and yours was the moment we became who we will be known for eternity.

Have you said Let it be done to me according to Your Word? Is there an outstanding invitation from the Lord that you have yet to accept? #identity #knownbyGod Share on X

This could be the day. The day you become you, the you God has crafted and intended since before the foundation of the world. We might not set aside a holiday to remember it, but then again, maybe we will, favored one!

Lord, thank You for having a purpose for each and every one of us. Help us say yes to Your call on our lives this Christmas. Amen.

@audreycfrank