And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28 NABRE
The opening of the gospel of Luke has the announcement of John the Baptist. Zechariah, John’s father, was performing his duties as priest when the Angel Gabriel appears and tells him that his wife Elizabeth will bear a son to be the prophet of the Most High, named John. Six months later the Angel Gabriel appears to a virgin betrothed to Joseph, named Mary, telling her she will conceive a son to be named Jesus. He will be the Son of the Most High (a title commonly used for God in Luke’s writing.) The angel in both cases tells Zechariah and Mary not to be afraid. Meeting an angel must have been a fearful experience. When the Angel Gabriel greets Mary he says to her, “Hail, favored one!” The angel is telling her God thinks highly of her. Hail is a common greeting of the time but then the angel speaks of Mary’s favor in the eyes of God. Over time Mary has been called many honorable names and this greeting from the Angel Gabriel has grown in its meaning, to that point where many call Mary the most favored of the human race. This favor coming from God’s selection of her to be the mother of His son Jesus. Later in the passage the angel says again, “you have found favor with God.” Mary allows God’s plan to be done to her according to the word of the angel. This pronouncement shows Mary’s respect, love and trust of God. She, having been found favorable to God, tells God she will serve as He needs her to serve, she says, “I am the hand maid of the Lord.”
This has been called Mary’s fiat, her decree, acceptance and it has made her one of the most famous mothers of all time. Is she more favored than all others, we don’t know, but her “yes” changes the world.
Would you have said yes to God so completely? Do you think Mary knew all that would happen to her?
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