A Scriptural Reflection on the Rosary: the First Joyful Mystery
St. Luke the Evangelist relates, in the first chapter of his gospel, the event in which Mary is told of her special mission:
"In the 6th month, 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" (v. 26-27).
The Angel's Greeting
"Coming to her he said, 'Hail, favored one! Blessed are you among women. The Lord is with you.' But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be" (v. 28-29).
The angel gives Mary a new name, as the Lord often does with those He has called to a major task in His Plan (ex. Gen 17:5, 15; 32:29; Mt 16:18). This name of hers is variously translated: 'full of grace,' 'gracious,' or 'highly favored one.' Each conveys the idea that Mary was especially chosen by God for this purpose and given the grace and favor she needed to carry it through.
"The Lord is with you," echoes the greeting of the angel to Gideon as he is called to be the champion of the Lord to free the Israelites from the oppression of Midian (Jdg 6:11-18). This greeting also brings to the mind of those familiar with the Hebrew scriptures, the story of Judith whom God sent into the enemy camp to behead Holofernes without compromising her virtue (Jdt 13:20). Uzziah commended her saying: "Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, the Creator of heaven and earth, who guided your blow at the head of the chief of our enemies. Your deed of hope will never be forgotten by those who tell of the might of God." (Jdt 13:18-19) This is a marvelous story of God's might shown through a woman. We will examine the story in a later issue.
The Good News
Then the angel said to Mary, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you shall conceive in your womb and bear a son. You shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom where will be no end." (v. 30-33)
St. Thomas Aquinas comments: "It may perhaps in the first instant of reflection appear shocking to our ideas, that God should dwell in a human body; but does not the sun emit its rays into all kinds of places without any detriment to its purity. How much more would the Sun of justice, assuming a most pure body, formed of the purest blood of the spotless Virgin not only remain free from even the least stain Himself, but even impart additional sanctity to His virgin Mother."
This announcement carries the full weight of the scriptures on its back. Here is the Messiah that has been promised throughout the ages! Nathan declared the promise to David:
I will fix a place for My people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance...I will raise up an heir after you sprung from your loins and I will make his kingdom firm...I will be a Father to him and he shall be a son to Me...I will not withdraw My favor from him...Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before Me: Your throne shall stand firm forever (2 Sm 7:10, 12, 14-17). This promise echoes in Psalm 89.
Psalm 72 gives a description of the reign of the King of kings. Isaiah expresses for us the fulfillment of the promise in one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible which we hear at Christmas:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light: Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shown. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing, As they rejoice before you as at the harvest, as men make merry when dividing spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, and the rod of their taskmaster you have smashed as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder, dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God Hero, Father Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, from David's throne and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgement and justice, both now and forever.
The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will do this (Is 9:1-6).
Jesus declared that He is the fulfillment of these promises as He gave the disciples the great Com mission: "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all that I have command you...I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Mt 28:18-20)
The Power of God
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be since I have no relations with a man?"
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 with God." (v. 34-37)
Isaiah tells of the birth of the Messiah: "Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel." (Is 7:14) He goes on to tell of the desolation which results from the rejection of the word of God, but not without hope, as we have seen above.
Mary's question of the angel holds a different tone than others, who have doubted, but who re ceived the same reassurance (Gen 18:12-14, Lk 1:18-19). Truly, nothing is impossible with the Lord! He made heaven and earth and all their inhabitants (Gen 1). He has the power to bring life into a womb which has passed its years of health, and to one which is virginal. He can bring salvation to even those who are most distracted by worldly things (Mt 19:16-26, Mk 10:17-27, Lk 18:18-27). He can change water into wine (Jn 2:1-11) He can take a child's lunch and feed a large crowd (Mt 14:15-21, 15:32-39, Mk 6:34-44, 8:1-10, Lk 9:10-17, Jn 6:1-15). He can heal the sick and crippled. He can forgive our sins. He can change bread and wine into His body and blood (Mt 16:16-28, Mk 14: 22-23, Lk 22:17-20) in order to provide for us food which brings us eternal life (Jn 6:35, 48-58).
Mary's Fiat
Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done unto me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. (v. 38) A handmaid is a female servant or attendant. With all modesty and humility of heart and mind, Mary consented to the divine will; in that moment the Redeemer and Savior of the world was conceived.
Abigail presents herself as the handmaid of David as she intercedes for Nabal (1 Sam 25:24-35). David later makes her his queen (1 Sam 25:39-42). The term comes into use again as Joab strives to reconcile David with his son Absalom (2 Sam 14).
Another Side of the Story
We can also look at the event from Joseph's point of view:
"Now, this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, since he was a righteous man yet unwilling to expose her to shame decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said. "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Behold the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel.' which means 'God is with us.'
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son and he named him Jesus." (Mt 1:18-25)
Joseph is presented as wholly obedient to the Word of God, as well. He is twice more given instruc tions in a dream (Mt 2:13, 19). He was a 'righteous man' who was well versed in the scriptures. It is entirely possible that Joseph was familiar with the prophesies which Matthew quotes and grew in his understanding of them as Jesus grew "in wisdom and age and grace with God and man." (Lk 2:40) One wonders what form the scripture study of the Holy Family took. they obviously took much time in this endeavor as Jesus displayed much knowledge in this area (Lk 2:46-50, 4:2-13) although His understanding is much deeper than that of those of us who are only human (Lk 24:13-27). With the help of the Holy Spirit and the Church, we too are called to an ever deepening understanding of the Word of God.
A prayer from the Solemnity of the Annunciation
Almighty Father of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, You have revealed the beauty of Your Power by exalting the lowly virgin of Nazareth and making her the mother of our Savior. May the prayers of this woman bring Jesus to the waiting world and fill the void of incompletion with the presence of her Child Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
This item 157 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org
