Mary said yes: was it really a question, though?

[Mummybee]

Okay, I thought I knew the annunciation scripture in Luke pretty well, but my daughter’s Baltimore First Communion Catechism made me do a double take and go back and re-read it. If any of you out there have this text, in lesson 4, on the last page, it says the following:

God sent an Angel to see Mary.
He asked her to be the Mother of Jesus.
Mary said “Yes” to the angel.
God sent His Son to her.
God made her Mother of Jesus.
He did this by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Mary prepared Jesus to die on the Cross for us.

I’ve read at least 3-5 versions of the associated scripture passage for this, and at no point in any of them did the angel ‘ask’ Mary to be the Mother of Jesus.

Here’s Luke 1:26-35 from the Douay Rheims version:
26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. 33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? 35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Sound like I’m picking nits? I think it’s pretty important. Mary was never actually asked to do this, she simply was told, and for obvious reasons, said pretty much, “Okay.” I feel like this is a big theological issue. Am I wrong to be concerned about the Baltimore FCC? Let me state emphatically that I think the BC is the best catechism out there, bar none. That’s why I was so surprised. One of its strengths is the way it illustrates complex theological points in ways children (and adults!) can really understand. Perhaps that’s why they stated it that way, to make the young ones understand the importance of Mary’s ‘yes’, even if she wasn’t ever actually asked to do it. Also, how did she “prepare Him to die on the cross”? Anyone have any comments/clarification?

Thanks,
Heather

 

[Lorik]

Mary could have said “No”, she had free will. She didn’t, she said “I am the handmaid (slave) of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to thy word”. Luke 1:38, is her “yes” to God.

 

[Mummybee]

I see your point. Maybe she wasn’t actually asked, but she didn’t say “no” either. “I am the handmaid (servant) of the Lord, let it be done to me according to thy word” is the opposite of Lucifer, who said, “i will not serve”.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Its not just about saying “yes”, its about following up with being a good Mother, it was saying yes to MOTHERHOOD (of Jesus the Lord!) which was a lifeflong commitment!
Too often in the Bible people make promises to God (a quick but not heartfelt “yes”) which they fail to keep, saying “yes” and meaning it from the heart is where Mary was at.

 

[TOME]

I think that a good way to approach this passage is from the perspective of the relationship of God’s Will for us and our Free Will either to accept God’s Will or reject it.

One of the aspects of Divine Revelation made know to us in scripture is the aspect that that God’s not only reveals Himself to us but He reveals ourselves to ourselves as well. This is what the first three chapters of Genesis is really all about and part of the message is First, God is God, He is the creator and He creates with a plan and a purpose and what He creates is essentially good. But also, in creating us, with a plan and a purpose, He, out of His infinite Love, has given us Free Will either to accept and fully participate with His plan (Will) or reject it.

So, in studying the Annunciation, I think understanding should be on God, through the Angle Grabiel, is presenting to her His Will for her which she was free to accept or reject and God was not seeking or asking permission.

 

[puzzleannie]

Mary said yes every day of her life. She could have said no by ending the pregnancy, there were folk remedies and herbs known to induce abortion (they were prohibited in early Church teaching of that era so they must have existed). She could have stayed with Elizabeth or another relative had the baby secretly and given it away, or even abandoned it or killed it. She could have let the law take its course and accept death by stoning in her “shame”. She could have failed any day of the week in her duties as a mother. She could have abandoned her son when he started doing crazy things like wandering around the countryside preaching. She could have written him off as a delinquent when he was arrested and killed the shameful death of a criminal. She could have distanced herself from his followers after stories of his resurrection began circulating.

 

[Angelos]

Glory to God in the highest & peace to His people on earth!

Wonderful posts!

I just want to share with you the dialogue I had with a Catholic priest long time ago on this issue. The priest told me that blessed Mother of our Lord said a sincere “YES” to God’s call. However, some people contended that Mary somehow had some doubts about the message given to her by Gabriel since the Gospel states that she left her home in a hurry to go to Judea! This was because she wanted to see Elizabeth as quickly as possible so as to be convinced that the Angel’s words were true and trustworthy:

1:39. And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country **with haste **into a city of Juda.

Nonetheless, I am among those who argue that Mary’s reason for going to Elizabeth’s house in such a hurry was the sign of Her confidence in the Lord because She would not have taken pains to leave her house if She had not believed in God’s promise to her. Actually, it was God that had implicitly asked Mary to go and see Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s pregnancy was the sign given to Mary by God Himself even though She had not asked for a sign to believe. I guess this is why Elizabeth praised Mary with the following words:

1:45. And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

Further, the word “with haste” in verse 39 demonstrates Mary’s devotion to the mission God had called her to. She went in a hurry because She believed in the Lord and instantly obeyed His command to go and help Elizabeth. (This is how I construe it).

Peace to you all.

 

[Della]

When I read the passage of the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary the conception, birth and reign of her Son, I see it as a proposal. He laid out for her what her Child would be and how he would be conceived, and Mary agreed to it. That is how she said, “Yes,” although it was not put to her as a question but as a “marriage” proposal, letting her know who and what her Son would be, knowing that being “full of grace” she would accept this commission from God.

 

[Ghosty]

Read the whole first chapter of Luke, and contrast Mary’s response with her cousin Zachariah’s. That should help shed some light on the matter as well.

Peace and God bless!