Today,
March 25, marking exactly 9 month before the joyful feast of the Nativity of
the Lord, December 25, is the joyful feast of the Annunciation. On this day, though amidst Lenten season, we celebrate
God’s announcement of the birth of His only begotten Son by making Mary, who is
the Immaculate Conception, pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit, though she
is ever virgin.
As
the First Reading for this feast (Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10 - vv. 10-14 also read for the 4th
Sunday of Advent on Cycle A in connection to its Gospel Reading: Matthew
1:18-24) suggests that a prophesy for Mary to be pregnant with and to give
birth to a son, named Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14, cf. Matthew 1:23) was made more
during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, more than 700 years before the
Annunciation. It is also interesting to note that this prophecy of the virgin
birth of Immanuel, which means “God with us”, in Isaiah 7:14 was God’s response
to Ahaz’ stubborn defiance to God’s intent to strengthen his faith through His
sign of God’s presence with him, as to reflect Exodus 3:12 (Isaiah 7:11-14). In
spite of God’s message through Isaiah’s prophecy for a sign of the virgin birth
of Immanuel to discourage him from forming alliance with Assyria in response to
the Syro-Ephraimite War (735-734 BC), Ahaz never listen to God. Instead, he let
his unholy alliance with king Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria bring spiritual defilement
into Judah. Instead of asking God for His sign, Ahaz listened to pagan king of
Assyria.
Nevertheless,
the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 began to be carried out with the Annunciation to
the Nativity of the Lord, because Mary was obedient to God, though Ahaz was
not. However, it took more than 700 years for this prophecy to be fulfilled. Is
it because of Ahaz’ stubborn disobedience to God? We do not know. But, thank
God, that Mary was not like Ahaz at all and listened to God and obeyed God to
let His will be carried out through her to let this prophecy be fulfilled.
Jewish
interpretation of Isaiah 7:14 generally denies it as a prophecy of the Blessed
Virgin Mary giving birth to the Messiah. Even some non-Catholic Christian
interpretation argues that the Hebrew word, “almah”, in Isaiah 7:14 simply means “maiden”, not necessarily “virgin”,
as in the Catholic interpretation, this does not refer to Mary and has nothing
to do with the Annunciation, described in Luke 1:26-38. The Catholic interpretation to see Isaiah 7:14
as prophecy for the Annunciation into the Nativity of the Lord (Luke 1:26-38,
2:1-20) also reflect on the Septuagint (LXX) translation of the Hebrew word, “almah” into the Greek word of “parthenos”, which is also used in Luke
1:26, as well as Matthew 1:23. In other words, the Septuagint Greek translated
Old Testament sees the “almah” in
Isaiah 7:14 with the same regard as both Matthew and Luke describe Mary as the
virgin – “parthenos”. This hermeneutic
disagreement aside, God had planned to make Mary the Theotokus (bearer of God, mother of God) in the fullness of time,
as in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 484 (cf. Galatians 4:4). God’s
decision for Mary to serve Him as the Theotokos
may be as early as the time of the eviction of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15).
This intention of God was figuratively prophesized during the time of King Ahaz
(Isaiah 7:14) and finally began to be fulfilled with the Annunciation (Luke
1:26-38), as Mary’s engagement to Joseph was the fullness of time for this
intent of God to be fulfilled.
When
the fulfillment began in the fullness of time, as the Gospel reading (Luke 1:26-38)
describes, Mary was, at first, troubled
to be greeted by God’s messenger, one of the archangels, Gabriel, who said, “Ave Maria, gratia plena. Dominus tecum!”
This young virgin (parthenos), who
was betrothed to Joseph, had no idea what Gabriel meant by the greetings,
though “gratia plena”, being full of
grace, being God’s favored one, indicates that Mary is the Immaculate
Conception. She must have wondered why Gabriel came to greet her as such. Then,
Gabriel continued on to announce that Mary is the Theotokos, as she is to give birth to the Son of God, with whom she
has become pregnant, and she is to name the Son Jesus (Joshua: which means “God
saves” in Hebrew. cf Matthew 1:21). Imagine how Mary’s initial trouble with the
greetings was intensified with the announcement!
Mary was
not ready to be pregnant. She was not yet ready to assume motherhood at all.
She was just engaged to Joseph but not yet had any physical contact with him.
Then, all the sudden, the annunciation brought by Angel Gabriel shook her life.
And, all this young virgin could do in response was to wonder: “How could it be
– how could it happen that I become pregnant with a son to be named Jesus, just
because I am God’s favored one, since I am virgin?” Sensing Mary’s internal
turmoil, Gabriel gave a bit of explanation for what is going on with Mary is in
God’s will and by the power of the Holy Spirit. In addition to this, Gabriel
also told Mary that the same power of God also has already made her older
relative, Elizabeth, who had been barren, pregnant, six months ahead of Mary.
And, he further said that there is nothing impossible with God – nothing
impossible as God wills in His time. And His time is the fullness of time,
always. Nothing can stop this.
Just as her fiance Joseph was so, reflected in the Gospel reading for his feast on March 19 (Mathew 1:16, 18-21, 24a), Mary was righteous, and her righteousness made her obedient. As in the case with Joseph, what else could she do, whether it is something she expected or unexpected – whether she likes it or not – if it was God’s will? She just accepts the whole thing though she did not fully understand everything, just as Joseph did. So, she decided to accept her unexpected pregnancy and serve as God’s handmaid at His disposition, as Joseph received her though he once thought of divorcing her secretly because of her premarital pregnancy.
Unlike
King Ahaz, Mary fully complied God’s will and let it be done through her
obedient service to Him as His handmaid. Her obedience to God’s will let God’s
will in Genesis 3:15 and plan in Isaiah 7:14 be fulfilled.
Now, the
Second Reading (Hebrews 10:4-10) gives insights behind the Annunciation from a
Christological angle, especially in terms of Gabriel telling Mary to name the
son she has become pregnant with “Jesus”, which means God saves.
Neither
the Law nor sacrifices can save us, as none of these can take away our sins.
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews cites Psalm 40:6-8 (Hebrews 10:5-7),
explains why Christ came to this world – why Mary became pregnant with Jesus,
who is Christ, regardless of her readiness or will.
Christ,
the Son said that he came to do his Father’s will (John 6:38) and it is to set
aside the old sacrifice rituals required by the Law by making the perfect
sacrifice once for all with himself (Hebrew 10:9). By this we can be made holy,
as our sins are taken away (Hebrew 10:10). This is a salvific and
Christological implication of the Annunciation, which was the beginning of the
unfolding fulfillment of Genesis 3:15, as well as Isaiah 7:14.
Though
there was a wicked king, like Ahaz, whose refusal to comply God brought defilement
in the past, such sinfulness has never stopped God’s will from being fulfilled
and carried out. It is because there have been faithful and obedient servants
of God, like Mary and her husband, Joseph. And, they are the ones to
collaborated God to bring forth His only begotten Son to redeem us, to reverse the
evolving effects of sin that Satan put with defiling Adam and Eve.
Ave
Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus
tecum
Benedicta
tu in mulieribus,
et
benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta
Maria, Mater Dei,
ora
pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc
et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
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