“Hail, Mary”
By Tom Quiner
“Hi Mary, how are you doing today?
I’ve got big news for you. Did you know that you are only the second woman ever born without the stain of sin? You were immaculately conceived, because I, God, have special plans for you. I want you to give birth to My Son who will save the world from sin. But it’s up to you. I know this will put you in a tough situation since you’re not married and your friends will want to stone you to death for falsely thinking you’ve been unchaste. What do you think? It REALLY is up to you, my daughter.”
Without missing a beat, Mary responded:
“Hey God, this situation isn’t about me, it’s about You. I’m in, because you’re the boss.”
Okay, this is not exactly how today’s riveting Gospel reading flows. Here’s the actual text from the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38, with a few comments thrown in:
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.“Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Mary had free will.
She said yes to God, giving her obedience and her love to her Creator. Mary modeled true feminism by demonstrating that true love is based on self-giving and nurturing God’s creation; whereas modern feminism has devolved into something ugly, selfish, and destructive.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
