Wonder - Day 9

The wonder of possible impossibilities

Luke 1:28-29
8 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

Here again, as in the story from last week, an angel appears onto the scene; heaven and earth collide, and a human is allowed to peak behind the curtain into the realm of the kingdom of God.

I would have been awestruck and wonder-filled, and as we learned with our earlier description of wonder, there is always a little bit of holy fear mixed in.  It is hard for us as humans to comprehend the heavenly realms, but here, Mary is given the opportunity to try.

Then comes the line, “favored woman.” Not sure about you, but I have often wondered what it was about Mary that made her favored in God’s eyes.  Was she particularly devout?  Did she pray morning, noon, and night?  Did she treat other people with a love and respect that rose above those around her?  What was it about her that made her so favored that an angel would come and tell her what part she was to play in the most important event to happen in all of history?

But the problem with those questions is that it makes Mary the focus, which is our common go-to response in the western world.  We love to make things all about ourselves.  However, the language Gabriel uses speaks to something else entirely.

The word used here for favor is better translated, “Greetings woman who is being pursued by grace.” God had chosen Mary out of His limitless grace, and grace is often defined as an act of kindness beyond what is due or common.  So Mary being favored is really about God, more than about Mary.  

Now this doesn’t diminish Mary’s role.  I’m sure God chose her for a reason, but what made her the most special was God’s choice, His grace, as well as the promise that He is with her.  Which, incidentally, the wonder and promise of His presence is one that is given to us all, as stated in Jesus’ last words before His ascension, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NLT), as well as with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit given in the book of Acts.

Mary’s response to this angel and the words shared is common; she’s confused, disturbed, but again, that’s what happens to us when heaven and earth collide.  Thankfully, Mary doesn’t run.  She stays in the conversation to see what impossible thing God’s going to make possible next.  Oh the wonder of it all.

QUESTIONS

1. Where, when, and how have you seen God’s favor, His grace, show up in your life?
2. Has God ever called you to something that confused and disturbed you?
3. When God’s call for our lives seems like more than we can handle, how do you respond?  Who do you reach out to for help or to make sense of it all?