How can this be

Isaiah 7:10-14; Ps 24 Let the Lord enter; he is the king of Glory; Luke 1:26-38

We have been hearing and encountering the annunciation when Gabriel comes to Mary in the gospel of Luke over the past three weeks quite a bit. It is a common passage during the latter part of advent.

The pope on Sunday took up a little sermon on the a particular part of the annunciation; he focused on the question of MAry to the angel, "How can this be..."

Below is a little of his insight.

"This is why the one question that Mary, "greatly disturbed," asks the angel is so important: "How can this be since I do not know man?" (Luke 1:34). In her simplicity Mary is very wise: She does not doubt God's power, but wants to understand his will better so that she can completely conform to this will. Mary is infinitely surpassed by the mystery and yet, she perfectly occupies the post that she is assigned at its center. Her heart and her mind are completely humble, and, precisely because of her singular humility, God awaits this young woman's "yes" to realize his design. He respects her freedom. Mary's "yes" implies both maternity and virginity, and it desires that everything in her is for God's glory, and that the Son whom she will bear will be wholly the gift of grace.
Dear friends, Mary's virginity is unique and unrepeatable, but its spiritual significance regards every Christian. It, in substance, is linked to faith: In fact, those who deeply trust in the love of God welcome Jesus within themselves, his divine life, through the action of the Holy Spirit. This is the mystery of Christmas! I hope that you will all live it with profound joy."

She does not doubtGod's power but she wants to understand his will better so that she can completely conform to this will.

What a beautiful insight.
What a beautiful example.

We too like Mary are often left with questions as the mystery of life unfolds before us, often in ways we did not anticipate nor expect. Yet, like MAry, we can bring our questions to God in humility and faith and not be afraid to seek understanding.

Our seeking to understand must always be trumped by our willingness to surrender. We seek to understand not just to know but to let go.

God invites our questions, he does not condemn them. Mary's faith and humility is exactly what allows her to pose the question that brings about a glimpse into the mystery of God's will. It is her faith that brings forth the question that penetrates the darkness of the mystery and reveals light and allows illumination.

Our questions are important. We too must present them in faith and wait for the God to open the mystery of life and leads us through. Then we too shall be better able to conform, to surrender, to speak those words, "let it be done to me according to thy word."