(The Annunciation, Leonardo da Vinci, 1472)
Luke 1:26-56

Did Mary have a conversion experience? She said yes to God each day.

Background

Luke 1:5-24 starts out with the announcement by an angel that John the Baptist will be born. Gabriel visits Zechariah when he is in the temple offering incense. Zechariah questions that God can do this, since he is old, and he is left unable to speak as a result. Mary reacts differently.

Full of grace

Luke 1:28 is the only place an angel does not call someone by name (compare this to the greeting Gabriel has for Zechariah in Luke 1:13, for example). The Greek used for “full of grace” is special. Luke also refers to Steven like this (Acts 6:8), but the Greek is different. For Mary, the wording implies that she always “has been” and “is now” full of grace.

How can this be?

In Luke 1:34 Mary questions Gabriel, like Zechariah did, but her question is full of faith, not “God cannot do this!”, but rather “How will God do this?”.

Check out Exodus 40:34-38. When the Israelites were wandering in the desert after being freed from Egypt, the same Greek word translated here as “overshadow” is used to describe the cloud that covered the tabernacle. This is not an accident that Luke used the same word.

The new ark

Luke is trying to show us that Mary is the new Ark of the Covenant. What was in the Ark? Hebrews 9:4 says that it was manna, Aaron’s staff, and the tables of the covenant (probably the ones Moses brought down from the mountain).

In the time of David, the Ark had fallen into the hands of the Philistines. Luke parallels 2 Samuel here describing Mary:

  • 2 Sam 6:2 - David “arose and went” to the hill country - Luke 1:39
  • 2 Sam 6:9 - David is struck by unworthiness - like Elizabeth in Luke 1:43
  • 2 Sam 6:16 - David leaped and danced before the Ark - like John in Luke 1:41
  • 2 Sam 6:11 - The Ark stayed for three months - like Mary in Luke 1:40, 56

It was not only Luke who thought this - see what John saw in Rev 11:15-12:6.

What is her response?

Mary does not say much in the Gospels, so it is difficult to tell. When greeted by Elizabeth she gives the glory to God, acknowledging what He has done for her, and then giving a great summary of Jesus’ future ministry.

She is one of just a few people remaining at the foot of the cross (John 19:26-27). She was with the disciples after Jesus ascended (Acts 1:14). She quietly went about living a life of faith, full of grace from the beginning. The woman at the well learned about Jesus and went off telling people - that is the path for some.

But for others, the path is quiet conversion following Jesus each day.

“Keep showing up.” ~ Des Linden, 2018 Boston Marathon winner

Into the deep

For more, check out the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible - The Gospel of Luke.