What was Mary thinking when the angel asked her to be the mother of God?

atassina · #1 Jul 4, '12, 7:48 am

Being the mother of the messiah had certain cultural and religious implications. While Mary was on earth, what did it mean to any Jewish woman (or girl) to be the mother of the messiah? What implications did Mary need to think through before she said yes?

Dorothy · #2 Jul 4, '12, 9:15 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by atassina

Being the mother of the messiah had certain cultural and religious implications. While Mary was on earth, what did it mean to any Jewish woman (or girl) to be the mother of the messiah? What implications did Mary need to think through before she said yes?

Sinless Mary was so obedient to the angel's message, that the only question on her mind was "How can this be since I have no relations with a man?"

Waiting · #3 Jul 4, '12, 10:03 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by atassina

Being the mother of the messiah had certain cultural and religious implications. While Mary was on earth, what did it mean to any Jewish woman (or girl) to be the mother of the messiah? What implications did Mary need to think through before she said yes?

Mary was the handmaid of he Lord, as she , herself, proclaimed when she recited The Magnificat. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior, for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant. From this day all generations shall call me blessed. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name." It must have taken a while to sink in just what was happening, but whatever the consequences, she would say yes to God without hesitation.
.

Marc Anthony · #4 Jul 4, '12, 10:28 am

"Well, sh*t"

JohnMPhilomena · #5 Jul 4, '12, 10:43 am

It's hard to know what was going through her mind at that time.

We know she pondered the greeting and what it meant ("Hail full of grace"). This was not a typical greeting - more of a greeting for royalty.

She probably also wondered who this angel was - was it a man? was it an angel?

I bet lots of things were going through her head. Confusion, fear, should she flee?

Remember no matter how close you are to God, we are still human and are subject to human fears and weaknesses. (think of Peter denying Christ 3 times because of fear for his own life). It takes an act of the will to overcome these.

Then when the angel told her what God wanted, she must have tried to figure out if this was all real and true. And then we know that she asked how it was possible since she had not been with a man?

Once it was all laid out for her, she must have thought about many things. Joseph - what would his reaction be? What would other people's reaction be? Questions she could not know the answers to.

So, finally she placed herself entirely in God's hands -"Be it done to me according to thy word." Ultimate and total trust in God.

Waiting · #6 Jul 4, '12, 10:56 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnMPhilomena

It's hard to know what was going through her mind at that time.

We know she pondered the greeting and what it meant ("Hail full of grace"). This was not a typical greeting - more of a greeting for royalty.

She probably also wondered who this angel was - was it a man? was it an angel?

I bet lots of things were going through her head. Confusion, fear, should she flee?

Remember no matter how close you are to God, we are still human and are subject to human fears and weaknesses. (think of Peter denying Christ 3 times because of fear for his own life). It takes an act of the will to overcome these.

Then when the angel told her what God wanted, she must have tried to figure out if this was all real and true. And then we know that she asked how it was possible since she had not been with a man?

Once it was all laid out for her, she must have thought about many things. Joseph - what would his reaction be? What would other people's reaction be? Questions she could not know the answers to.

So, finally she placed herself entirely in God's hands -"Be it done to me according to thy word." Ultimate and total trust in God.

"Full of Grace" was not a royal greeting. It meant that her soul was pure -- she was not stained with sin, even Original Sin.

aicirt · #7 Jul 4, '12, 11:30 am

Mary came from a very religious family and was well aware of the prophecies. The Jews knew that the Messiah would be born of a virgin from her line. Not that it wasn't a surprise actually more of a shock.

I also think this might not have been the first time the angel was sent to Mary. When you consider all the other appariations, it is usally awhile before something is asked of the person.

I think she was given time to think on what will happen to her baby. The prophecies told He would be killed. When she was willing to accept all, she conceived.

TimothyH · #8 Jul 4, '12, 1:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waiting

"Full of Grace" was not a royal greeting. It meant that her soul was pure -- she was not stained with sin, even Original Sin.

"Hail" was a greeting reserved for leaders - kings, queens, emperors, pharoahs, commanders of armies, etc.

-Tim-

atassina · #9 Jul 4, '12, 3:24 pm

Ok. What were the implications of being the mother of the messiah? Did she think "I'm going to become the queen of Israel"? I wish one of the bible scholars had some input on this.

aicirt · #10 Jul 4, '12, 3:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by atassina

Ok. What were the implications of being the mother of the messiah? Did she think "I'm going to become the queen of Israel"? I wish one of the bible scholars had some input on this.

No, I don't think she thought she'd be an earthly queen. I think from the prophecies she could deduce that the Messiah would die a hard death. I think that would be the thing that would be difficult for her to overcome....the knowledge that He would die.

I feel that the angel told her more about what her life would be like here on earth. Some things were just for her to know and not us.

atassina · #11 Jul 4, '12, 3:35 pm

I guess what I'm trying to get at is: What could she think about based on the prophesies from the Old Testament (I know- to her they were just the Scriptures.)

TimothyH · #12 Jul 4, '12, 6:33 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by atassina

I guess what I'm trying to get at is: What could she think about based on the prophesies from the Old Testament (I know- to her they were just the Scriptures.)

She knew she was being elevated to a singlular position in all of humanity.

For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
(Luke 1:48-49)

-Tim-

atassina · #13 Jul 4, '12, 7:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimothyH

She knew she was being elevated to a singlular position in all of humanity.

For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
(Luke 1:48-49)

-Tim-

Tim: She prayed the exaltation to God after at least three months of reflection. At the moment she was queried by the angel, what can we know that she rationally was able to think? What had she learned through her study of the Scriptures and by the teaching of her parents and her community?

TimothyH · #14 Jul 5, '12, 8:40 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by atassina

Tim: She prayed the exaltation to God after at least three months of reflection. At the moment she was queried by the angel, what can we know that she rationally was able to think? What had she learned through her study of the Scriptures and by the teaching of her parents and her community?

Mary would have been taught all of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jerimiah and Daniel. She would have heard the law and the prophets for hours in the Synagogue on the Sabbath and she would have been taught it as a child. She would have been taught to read and write from the book of Leviticus, and from the Holy Scriptures and from the Law of Moses in the first five books of the Bible.

Mary would have understood that the Messiah would be the new Moses, who would institute a new Exodus which would include a return of the manna from heaven. The new Exodus would literally transform the earth into a new and shining temple - a Heavenly Jerusalem - where God would dwell with men, just as he did with Adam and Eve before the fall. And there would be a covenant which would fulfill God's promise of everlasting peace.

I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them. I will multiply them and put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling shall be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations shall know that I, the LORD, make Israel holy, by putting my sanctuary among them forever. (Ezekiel 37:26-28)

She would have known that the Messiah would free people from captivity, free the Israelites and all gentiles from captivity and slavery.

Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service has ended,
(Isaiah 40:2)

To open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
(Isaiah 42:7)

That the messiah would wipe away every tear, that there would be great joy.

He will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.(Isaiah 25:8)

And she would have understood that the Messiah would destroy death. She would have understood that through her Son the Messiah, we would be able to live forever.

-Tim-

atassina · #15 Jul 5, '12, 11:27 am

thank you. this is the approach that I was looking for. you did a fine job of explaining what she could have been thinking about. i appreciate your effort. thank you.