+ Have you ever been in a situation when you had enough explanation o1r understanding that everything made sense and nothing more was required? Would that Ahaz had had such a moment, but instead Isaiah the prophet had to set him straight —
“You will not ask for a sign? You will not tempt the Lord?”
And Isaiah declared that God would give the sign —
“The virgin will be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means God is with us!”
Hopefully, that was enough!
The letter to the Hebrews tells us that there is no more need for sacrifices and offerings; Jesus was the final offering and sacrifice, and was once-and-for-all!
But it is in the beautiful Annunciation story that we see God’s plan and Mary’s participation in it.
The most mysterious invitation and plan is revealed; the most wonderful and generous response happens from Mary’s “Yes.”
And although it is definitely plausible that Mary did not really understand the whole picture, she definitely understood that somehow God was inviting and doing something grand in the human story.
God was giving and loving in a way never imagined before.
