Zechariah

 In Luke 1:5-25, we see Zechariah doubting the message the angel, the Lord sent.  I always felt this was unfair because Mary doubts also, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"  Luke 1: 26-38.

I've reconsidered.  Mary is very young.  She's just a girl, after all.  Zechariah is a grown man.  More than that, he's a priest.  He should have known scripture.  

Therein, lies the difference.  

Mary's Non-Fiat

 

Here's how the play went:  Mary's sitting nonchalantly and singing to herself.  When out of the sky drops this huge crocheted creature.  Mary freaks out.  She trembles and cowers and wrings her hands.

The crocheted creature says, "Do not be afraid!."  Mary is too frightened to understand what is being said.  Again, "Mary!  Do not be afraid!"  Mary looks at the crocheted creature and it speaks to her: "Hail Mary, full of grace!  I am the angel Gabriel and I have come to make an announcement."  Mary has stopped shaking and says, "Wha...why...huh?"  Gabriel continues, "The Lord is with You.  Behold, you will have a son named Jesus Emmanuel Christ.  He is the Son of God; you are to be the Mother of God.  Mary answers, "Cool!"

What can I say?  Theology of a ten year old.

Gabriel's Message

There's an old Christmas Carol entitled Gabriel's Message.  It's not that popular a Christmas hymn, however, it has been sung by some popular artists, e.i. Sting, Charlotte Church, Terry McDade, Jars of Clay, etc.  The ballad itself tells the story of the  Annunciation of Jesus to Mary, (Luke 1: 26-38 and part of the Magnificat).  The tune to me has a medieval tinge to it, but it was written in the nineteenth century as a Basque Christmas folk tune.

Since today is the day the Church celebrates the Annunciation, "Gabriel's Message," came to mind.  This is the day we celebrate Jesus conception.  Also the day, I begin my nine month novena, which will end when Jesus is born, Christmas.  

Blessed??????

Gabriel words to Mary about God choosing her, have always made me "gulp." Part of me says, "Thank God, I wasn't chosen. Who'd want to see their child tortured to death before their eyes." (OK, a big part of me, thinks like that.) (I'm not a saint, yet.) (Working on it)

I understand that Jesus redeemed us through His suffering and death. But why He'd bother with such ingrates as us, is beyond me (literally). (I'm not a saint, yet.) (Working on it)

Thinking deeper (Working on it), the point is "trust." Mary trusted God and said "Thy will be done." But it is more amazing to me,(I'm not a saint, yet.) (Working on it) that she trusted God through Jesus' Passion and Crucifixion.

I wish Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John, would have written about what Mary's thoughts were. Of course, it's not about Mary. Still, she could have questioned how blessed she was to witness her Son's dying.

(I'm not a saint, yet.) (Working on it) Maybe, she focused on our redemption. Maybe, she understood Jesus' teachings and knew and understood the purpose of the Crucifixion.

I'm the one that questions being "blessed" to be the Mother of God. Mary never questioned; she trusted God. (I'm not a saint, yet.) (Working on it) I need to work on trusting God to become a saint. I get it.