I AM: FAVORED WEEK ONE - Day Five: A Narration of Mother Mary

By Central Women

These days of waiting were long and they were taking a toll on her. Sure, it’s an exciting time, a time of preparation. But from the moment it was announced, the anticipation had been growing and she was anxious to set off on her new life. Her new life as the wife of Joseph.

He was a kind, gentle, and upstanding young man from Nazareth. A carpenter. Well respected, even if he was a man of meager means. We don’t need much, she believed. We just need each other.

Her new life would begin soon, once the betrothal was over and the last marriage rite performed. For now, as Joseph prepared to make a home for his soon-to-be wife, Mary would wait.

It was in the waiting that it happened.

A booming voice called out to her and she was instantly afraid. The voice, somehow, was comforting, somehow reassuring.

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Who, me? She thought, almost looking around instinctively, but quickly realizing no one else was in the room with her besides this angel in front of her.

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.”

So many words.

“Favor.”

“With child.”

“Son of the Most High.”

“Throne.” “Reign.” “Kingdom.”

So many words, she could hardly formulate a thought. What does this mean? This time, not resisting the natural instinct to scan the room, she looked over her shoulder again.

Still no one. The angel was speaking to her.

A million thoughts flooded her mind. The Lord God, she serves Him faithfully. This angel in front of her is a messenger sent from God. She wasn’t yet married; there is no way she could be with child. She was a virgin.

She scanned her mind for truths she knew from the Scriptures. It is true that women have had miraculous births. However, these births were to older women, barren women whose wombs had miraculously opened, years after they had given up on ever having a child of their own.

Sarah and her son Isaac. Rebekah and her sons Jacob and Esau. Hannah and her son Samuel.

These were indeed miraculous births, but none of these women were virgins.

How can a virgin be with child?

It seemed as though minutes had passed as her mind raced and she was finally able to formulate words.

“How will this be, since I am virgin?” she asked the angel.

This question, not asked in a moment of unbelief, but as a sincere inquiry. How will this actually happen?

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

He went on, “Even Elizabeth, your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

More words to process and more thoughts to piece together. “Even Elizabeth,” the angel said. Another miraculous birth would soon take place. Then, a few months later, the most miraculous birth of all. A baby, a son, will be born to a virgin, and he will be called the Son of God. Miraculous indeed.

Why me? She wondered. Why now, when I am so close to being married, and Joseph. Oh, Joseph. What will he say? What will he do?”

Thoughts continued to race in her mind. What will people say of me? The shame I will bring to my family and Joseph’s family for that matter. How could I do this to Joseph? He has been so good to me.

Then, comfort and reason swooped back in. Her mind traced the conversation back to the beginning. “Highly favored,” the angel had said to her.

All the “why me?” and “how” questions left her mind.

I am favored. The Lord my God sees me, knows me, and calls me favored. And He sent His angel to speak with me. Me!

She sighed. Not a sign of resignation or despair, a sigh that was deep and full. A sigh that inhaled the promises of God, the comfort of being known by God, favored by God. A sigh that breathed in the excessive kindness God was pouring out upon her, and the assurance that God was with her through it all.

She looked at the angel and humbly spoke, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.”