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Today we remember Mary, Mother of Our Lord. The gospel writer Luke writes that she was “much perplexed” when the angel Gabriel suddenly appeared, right there in her house in Nazareth, and greeted her so politely (Luke 1:29). Other translations say she was troubled, confused, bewildered, even startled. Luke goes on to say that she “pondered what sort of greeting this might be.”
Contrast Mary’s perplexity and pondering with her relative Zechariah’s response when Gabriel had appeared to him just a few months before: Even before the angel said a word, Zechariah was terrified, and fear overwhelmed him (Luke 1:12).
This very young woman from a small town isn’t especially afraid of an archangel who stands in the presence of God (Luke 1:19). She’s thinking about what’s going on, pondering what it all means.
Christian women can remember Mary. She pondered, paid attention, compared what she heard with the facts she knew, and asked for answers before she said yes. Mary’s example of calm thoughtfulness is one we can follow.
This message is excerpted from “Follow’s Mary’s example of calm thoughtfulness” by Audrey Novak Riley from the August 17, 2020, blog of the Women of the ELCA. Today we commemorate Mary, Mother of Our Lord.