A Meditation on Mary

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. Now the virgin’s name was Mary. And having come to her, the angel said, “Be happy, grace-favoured one! The Lord is with you. You are well spoken of among women.”

But she was troubled at his statement and was pondering what kind of greeting this might be.

So the angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And see, you will conceive in your womb and produce a son, and you will call His name 'Jesus'. He will be great, and He will be called Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His forefather David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of His kingdom there will be no end!”

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen, since I do not know a man?”

And the angel answering, said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore also the Holy thing being delivered by you will be called 'Son of God'. And look, Elizabeth, your relative, she has also conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For, in God, nothing will be impossible.

Then Mary said, “See the Lord’s servant-girl, may it happen to me as you've spoken.” Then the angel departed from her.

Then Mary composed-herself, and in the days following hurried into the hill country, to a town of Judah, where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit so she cried out in a loud voice and said:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And from where to me is this?... that the mother of my Lord should come to me? Because look, as soon as the sound of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leapt with joy in my womb. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfilment of the things which have been told to her from the Lord!"

Then Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour! For He has regarded the humiliated state of his servant-girl. So see how, from now on, all generations will count me blessed.

For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name. His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him. He has demonstrated strength with His arm. He has routed the heart-schemes of the proud.

He has put down rulers from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things. And He has sent the rich away empty. He has helped Israel His servant, remembering mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever."

So Mary dwelt with her for about three months, and then returned to her home.