He Knows My Questions
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38
Meditation
Up until today, the only questions that have kept Mary’s mind racing are the ones that have to do with her upcoming wedding to Joseph.
“Who should we invite? How many? Where should we have the banquet? What should I wear?”
But when Gabriel, the archangel of heaven, arrives with a pair of blue baby booties, Mary’s well-planned world shakes like the rattle her son will soon hold.
“Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.”
She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.1
For a young girl about to be married, a child out of wedlock is scandalous. In an instant, Mary’s life changes. Her thoughts go from being a bride to becoming a single mother, from a honeymoon to the maternity ward, and from dancing with her new husband under the stars to changing diapers late into the night. Out go the wedding plans; in come the questions.
“What’s God up to? Why me? Why of all times, now? How can this be? I’m not married yet.”
Mary’s questions try to squeeze the faith out of her life. Though the announcement came via an angel, Mary wonders if God really knows what he’s doing. After all, a virgin can’t conceive. And one about to get married—she better not conceive! It would be a violation of the pledge that she swore to Joseph and grounds for divorce. Potentially it’s a death sentence. Gabriel must have come to the wrong house. He must have the wrong girl because it’s definitely the wrong time.
For Mary, a baby is a dream yet to be dreamt. It’s a desire planted and due to sprout sometime in the future, after the wedding. But first things need to be first: marriage, husband, stability and then a child. Gabriel’s announcement is unreasonable. Unthinkable. Impossible.
Confused, Mary asks the archangel for an explanation.
“But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”2
Gabriel answers,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you; therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.”3
His explanation is a mystery. Somehow, some way, heaven’s Son is going to take on human flesh. The Holy Spirit will plant the Promised Seed in Mary and Salvation will take root. The Seed of Heaven will grow, mature and kick strong within his mother’s womb. Messiah’s majesty will be veiled for nine months but, when he is born, he will be called Holy, the Son of God.
Though this work of the Father will radically alter Mary’s life, he doesn’t give her all of the answers. He simply assures her that, in the middle of the mystery, he is working. He doesn’t explain the fullness of what he’s doing, or how, or why. He chooses to keep many of the divine details to himself and leaves Mary’s questions unanswered.
Though Mary’s perplexed, Gabriel reminds her that, in the mystery of it all, God is with her. The power of the Almighty overshadows her. He has a surprise for her—the Christ child will not only grow in her womb, one day she’ll cradle him in her arms.
Noticing that Mary is still puzzled by the Father’s surprise, Gabriel presents Mary with a parting gift. Along with the birth announcement, he delivers a full resume of her unborn son’s future accomplishments. It’s enough to make any mother beam.
“He will be great, be called ‘Son of the Highest.’ The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; He will rule Jacob’s house forever—no end, ever, to his kingdom. “4
In the midst of the mystery, God takes Mary’s questions, gently straightens them out, stands them up, brushes them off, and turns them into an exclamation of surrender. Though fearful, she relinquishes control. Mary lets the questions remain questions, abandons the demand for answers, and gives herself over to the loving hands of the Father.
“Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me just as you say. “5
Reflection
What questions do you have for the Father?
Have you ever been thoroughly shaken by an action or announcement of God?
In what ways have you asked God, “How can this be?”
How is God straightening out your questions and turning them into an exclamation of surrender—“let it be with me just as you say”?
Prayer
Father,
When you work in my life, I have questions. I don’t always understand what you’re doing, how you’re doing it, or why. Your ways are higher than my ways and what you think goes beyond what I can imagine. When I ask for answers, you don’t always give me the details but you do assure me that your Son is always with me and with him all things are possible.
During this day, when your heavenly messengers come with a divine proclamation, I want to listen. Though I shake, don’t let me be afraid. Though I question, help me believe. Though I wonder, help me submit. Like Mary, help me embrace your good news even though it seems to come at the wrong time. Through your Son, gently straighten out my questions, stand them up, and turn them into exclamations of praise—points of surrender. Each day, every moment, let it be with me as you say. It’s in your Son’s name that I pray. Amen.
1Luke 1:28-31 2Luke 1:34 3Luke 1:35 4Luke 1:32-33 5Luke 1:38
All Scripture references in the meditation are marked by italics and are taken from the Gospel reading for the day. Those verses quoted outside of the chosen reading for the day are noted. All Scripture quoted in this post is taken from THE MESSAGE: Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001 & 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.