Luke 1: 26-38
I believe that if you ask many people about the significant differences between Christians who are Protestants and Christians who are Roman Catholics you are likely to hear in the conversation some of these thoughts: well, Protestant Christians in general emphasize a direct relationship with Jesus --- no mediation or intercession is required; Protestants do not pray through a saint. You may also hear that Protestant Christians do not have a leadership telling individuals what to believe; we do not have a Pope sharing guidelines. You may also hear that Protestant Christians do not reverence Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
What interests us about those points --- as a group of Lutherans but from a varied Christian background --- is that last point I mentioned --- Protestant Christians to not "reverence" Mary. Without getting into a debate on the history or the particulars, the ebb and flow, of Mary in the life of the Church, it may surprise some of you to know that in the past twenty to thirty years there has been a resurgent interest in Mary, not only in the Roman Catholic Church but for many Protestants as well. For example, one major reason many Protestants have become more interested in Mary is because she is an important, prominent woman who had a huge impact on the life of Jesus.
So what do you think about Mary? Is Mary the blessed one, a perpetual virgin who never gave birth to another child, Is Mary nearly a divine figure? Or is Mary, as she is known in the Orthodox church, the "Theotokos" the God bearer? Or is Mary the simple, young peasant girl, who slips in and out of obscurity coming out at various times in the life of Jesus. Is Mary an example, someone who is simply "useful for reflection," perhaps an example of a strong woman of faith, or is there something more?
Let us begin our time thinking about Mary with some thoughts on today's gospel termed as the "annunciation:" the revelation to a young virgin woman --- Mary --- that she would conceive a child. "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.'" What was Mary's response to the angel? "Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be."
Put aside what you already may know about Mary and focus on that interesting combination. Mary was "highly favored" and "greatly troubled." Initially we may think Mary may be disturbed at the appearance of an angel --- that would be natural. But in Luke's retelling of the event he does not focus on that or even if it was an issue, rather we are told that Mary was troubled "at his words." So what words in particular troubled Mary; was it "Greetings, the Lord is with you" or was it "you who are highly favored?"
What out of those words troubled Mary? Although I'm sure talking angels are certainly surprising, I think it is the words "highly favored" that troubled Mary. To be favored by God normally would lead one to think that you were going to have an easy life full of success. I think we --- living in one of the wealthiest nations in the world with a large gap between the rich and poor --- believe the "favor" of God is in terms of financial blessings.
But that is not accurate. For example, where is there the first mention of God's "favor" in the Bible --- the story of Cain and Abel. "In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast." Then, in another story also found in Genesis, we have Noah: "So the LORD said, 'I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth --- men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air --- for I am grieved that I have made them.' But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD."
Those two early examples immediately call into question "favor" as a blessing of riches because favor led to jealousy in which Cain was to later kill his brother Abel. And in the story of Noah, his family and assorted life would unhappily ride surf while creation drowned.
Thus when we hear that Mary was greatly troubled at "his words" Mary's reaction possibly might have been, "Oh, so I am 'highly favored', am I? ... " Well, sure enough, the angel Gabriel continues by first offering words of reassurance and then reiterating his opening words; "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God." At this point Gabriel describes what that favor means. It is not wealth or an easy life. Mary "you will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus." Mary will be the mother of the "son of the most high."
How does Mary react to the fact that she has been "favored" with a child? With a very good question, "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "Since I am a virgin?" Gabriel, the angel who stands in the presence of God answered, describing that what will happen will not be like as can happen between a man and a woman; God will "overshadow." In other words … a mystery --- a miracle --- grace alone. Gabriel reinforces this by sharing some good news, possibly for the first time, because we have no clue if Mary knows about her relative. "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." Gabriel concludes with "For nothing is impossible with God." At which Mary counters with: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."
What does this all mean for us as we think about Mary? Well, from the onset, we see that Mary is far more than simply a biological vessel for Jesus.
I believe we must begin with the fact that she was "highly favored." Meaning that as we see from just two other stories in the Bible where someone is "favored" their life prior may or may not have had an impact on being chosen. In the story of Cain and Abel "favor" revolved around an offering and in the story of Noah, "favor" was related to Noah being "a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God." Meaning for whatever reason Mary was "favored" --- chosen --- by God to be the mother of his son. As New Testament scholar Fred Craddock noted: "we must be careful to notice that none of her qualities is offered as the reason God chose her; that reason lies tucked away in the purposes of God."
We could speculate on her life --- as many have done --- Christian tradition is full of ideas and stories about her life, but suffice it to say for some reason only known to God, Mary was favored. And by some miracle --- by grace alone --- she will be pregnant with a boy.
So from just this snippet of her life, how should we view Mary? We have been informed of a miracle, to a virgin mother, centuries ago. This miracle is the son of the highest God. This miracle will be a son who will bring a Kingdom that will never end. And like Mary we can respond; troubled as she was troubled, with questions like Mary asked questions. And like Mary we have the opportunity to act in response; "I am the Lord's servant." And to sing of God's grace.
There is more … In Mary's life we can see our own. God in grace has shown favor to us, chosen us. God's power works through people like you and I as it did in Mary. Thomas Long professor of Preaching at Candler School of Theology writes, Christians "… are in language school learning how to speak and act as people of God, trying to acquire the vocabulary and customs of God's people."
In other words, in Mary we find the vocabulary to speak and act as people of God. And what is that vocabulary, how about her song as she meets Elizabeth, our Psalm today: "You have shown strength with your arm; and scattered the proud in their conceit, casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifting up the lowly. You have filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty."
In Mary we find the vocabulary to prepare for new life that is taking hold. We find the vocabulary to respond to God's grace give and act. Who is Mary? Mary is none other than one of us. Amen.
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