Full of grace

Gospel: Lk 1:26-38

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121223.cfm

In today’s gospel, Mary is visited by an angel named Gabriel who says, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” Mary becomes deeply troubled and ponders the meaning of this greeting. I’m assuming this was not a typical greeting from that time. Gabriel wasn’t simply saying, “Hi Mary, how are you?”

To be full of grace is to have God show favor. It doesn’t mean that God liked Mary more than everyone else, but that God saw great potential in her to do something and gave her the ability to do it. She was told of her potential, not that it would necessarily become a reality. Having the great things come was going to require her participation and action.

Gabriel’s greeting shows the importance of what role she is to serve if she is willing. There is a significant level of responsibility put upon her in that choice. It can be understood to mean, “God is giving you an amazing gift; don’t mess it up.”

God is participatory. God wants us to participate in the divine plan and allows us to choose otherwise. God could make it all happen, but God gives us the ability to choose. There is beauty in that choice. The action has more value because we can choose not to.

Mary had to keep making choices and hard choices throughout Jesus’s life that helped make his mission possible. Could God have done it without her? Yes, but God didn’t. God wanted her participation. Similarly, God calls us to participate and has given us graces to share with others. Reflect on the story of Mary and seek ways that you, too, can use your gifts in service to God and others.