“I’m going to have a what?”
theophilus March 31st, 2008
Today, the Church commemorates the Solemnity of the Annunciation – when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she had conceived the Son of God – while still remaining a virgin.
This feast is usually on the 25th of March but is commemorated today because last week was the Octave of Easter. In any case, being the dense guy I am, I once wondered why this feast was held in March. And then someone suggested I count back the months from December. What gets me is that Jesus was born right on schedule. (Think about it.)
What I love about the story of the Annunciation is that Mary immediately said “yes.” She could have said “no,” and who would have blamed her. Even after some persuasion by Gabriel, St. Joseph also said “yes.” Who would have blamed him from walking away from a potentially explosive situation?
And their yes’s became even more incredible to me as I became a father. I remember the exact moments that my wife told me that we were going to have our two children. They were moments of fear, uncertainty, anxiety – and jubilation, exultation and gratitude. I couldn’t wait to be a father – but these moments scared me – even the second one.
So, I can imagine how Mary & Joseph must have felt. And for them, it must have been even more dramatic. They were unmarried – they hadn’t done “it” – they were about to face the ridicule and scorn of a judgmental society. It had the potential to turn into a very ugly situation.
And maybe it was because they hadn’t done “it” that made them better able to accept their “predicament.”. They were very devout in their faith – they trusted God unquestionably. They recognized Gabriel as a messenger from God (we would have thought we were waking up from a dream). After hearing from Gabriel, they both implicitly believed that this baby was a gift from God and, more astounding, would be the Son of God. There was no other choice for them to make. What faith, what trust, what belief.
Do we trust God to this extent? Probably not.
Guys, what would you have done were you St. Joseph? Gone back to sleep? Said, “no way?” Become suspicious and jealous? Judged this woman who the day before you loved with all of your heart? Just ran away because it was too much to handle? Left her to herself and abandoned her? Treated the baby as nothing more than an inconvenient inhuman object?
I remember those two nights after our “Annunciations” and I remember the conflicting thoughts running through my mind. I knew God’s plan was playing out for me and my wife – and I was able to get my head and emotions centered on this belief. But, I really can’t imagine how St. Joseph or Mary were able to get their heads and emotions around the breadth of God’s plan for them. For me, it would have been just too much.
But then, Mary and St. Joseph were incredibly special people – so maybe it shouldn’t be that hard to imagine. And maybe instead of asking how they could have such faith, we need to ask why we would not.
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