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The Annunciation to Mary

Knowing that we mortals tend to resist change, our Father in Heaven wisely prepares us before critical decisions are to be made by schooling our feelings and informing our agency. In that light, consider what happened to Mary the Mother of Jesus.

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth.” Gabriel is Noah of the flood. He is one of heaven’s presiding officers and the herald angel of great announcements.

He was sent “to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the House of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.” By merciful providence, Mary was not to be alone to bear God’s Son. Joseph, of kingly descent, was Mary’s chosen companion and protector.

The angel “came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored. The Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women.” Mary stands preeminent—chosen and blessed because of her faith. Rightly, her name means “exalted.” And to our Father in Heaven, she is precious.

“And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.” The sight of the angel frightened and confused her. Why was he greeting her with such reverence?

“Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus.” Motherhood is the highest holiest calling on earth, but to be the mother of Jesus the Christ…. He would be as He was named–His name means Savior.

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His Father David, and He shall reign over the House of Israel forever, and of His kingdom, there shall be no end.” This promise must have stayed her and stayed with her for the rest of her life. No matter the mortal realities, her Son was a Prince—the Prince of Peace, worlds without end. No son ever brought more honor and glory to his mother than did Jesus.

But to have a son and be not married—“How shall this be,” Mary said, “seeing I know not a man.” Mary did not as yet comprehend who and what her Son was to be.

“The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee,” Gabriel taught, “and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that Holy Thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” This Son was to be like no other before or after—He was the only Son God ever sired into mortality—the Only Begotten in the Flesh. The Son of God Himself was coming to earth and she was to prepare His physical tabernacle and be His Mother.

And then as if to further confirm her overwhelmed faith—“And thy cousin Elizabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.” When all the powers of hell would be let loose on Mary and her family, she would always remember and know—God can do the impossible. What serenity and peace this proven truth must have been to her.

The call was explained and extended, her calling and election in mortality was offered. Now…” Behold, the handmaid of the Lord,” Mary said in meek submission, “Be it unto me according to thy word.” Notably, before Jesus would say, “Not my will but thine be done,” His Mother, in principle, would say it first. Besides her Son, did any mortal ever accept so much with so few words?

My soul overflows with reverence and awe for Mary—what manner of woman was she, is she? And how did Heaven consider her? I can’t even find the words.

Merry Christmas!