"I Am The Handmaid Of The LORD, Let It Be Done To Me As You Have Said."

"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from GOD, to a town of Galilee called Nazareth.  He was sent to a virgin, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, 'Rejoice, full of grace, the LORD is with you!'  Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.

But the angel said, 'Do not fear, Mary, for GOD has looked kindly on you.  You shall conceive and bear a son; and you shall call him JESUS.  HE will be great, and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High.  The LORD GOD will give HIM the kingdom of David, HIS ancestor; HE will rule over the people of Jacob forever; and HIS reign shall have no end.'

Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?'  And the angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born of you shall be called Son of GOD.  Even your relative, Elizabeth, is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have child; and she is now in her sixth month.  With GOD nothing is impossible.'

Then Mary said, 'I am the handmaid of the LORD, let it be done to me as you have said.'  And the angel left her." - Luke 1:26-38 

(Only Mary could make known the mystery of JESUS' conception to the primitive church.  How could she express such an inner experience and how would it be reported?

Therefore, in writing, Luke had to use biblical words and forms that would allow us to understand the mysterious encounter of Mary with GOD.

I am the handmaid of the LORD.  In saying this, Mary does not lower herself with false humility; instead she expresses her faith and her surrender.  From her will be born the one who will be both the servant announced by the prophets [Isaiah 42:1; 50:4; 52:13] and the only Son [Hebrews 1].)

On-Site
On-Track