Thank you for this thoughtful and welcome piece on the Annunciation, Jacob.
Fascinating to compare Mary's response to Gabriel with Zechariah's in the preceding section of Luke 1.
Zechariah's reply expresses incredulity at an improbable conception - 'How can I know this?' or, in other words, 'give me more evidence'. Gabriel might have replied 'You've got a huge Archangel standing right in front of you. Isn't that enough for you?'
Mary's response to an even more improbable conception is belief. Her question 'How will this be?' in v34 is different from Zechariah's. She doesn't doubt the word from God sent via Gabriel. She's just a bit puzzled as to how the conception will come about.
Poor Zechariah is punished for his unbelief by being struck dumb temporarily - until he demonstrates faith unequivocally (v63).
Mary is pronounced 'blessed' because of her belief in the word of the Lord. The pronouncement is made by the Holy Spirit, via Elizabeth (v45).
I hope you too had a blessed Christmas. You are absolutely right on the difference between Zechariah and Mary. The immediate faith and obedience of Mary and, at the presentation in the temple, Simeon, are models which we can but hope to follow.
My mother and I always watch "The Nativity"at this special time of the year .It is a remarkable production made in 2010,by the BBC and so well told in a simple way without being preachy and a load of Kant.Tackles head on the problems Mary would have faced being an unmarried mother etc.It is so well regarded it is recommended in Schools etc by the Bible Society.I am delighted to be able to recommend it to my fellow subscribers as a proud WASP(White.Anglo Saxon Protestant).P.s My mother was not an unmarried mother ,though I've often been referred to as a bastard.
Thank you for talking about the Blessed Mother. We need to call her blessed as all generations have as Gabriel told her. Beautiful chapel-is that one in your house? Lovely! Praise to the Trinity and the Blessed Virgin's "fiat" and a Merry and holy Christmas to you all!
Merry Christmas Jacob to you and your family
May god bless you and your family at this special time.
Happy Christmas Sir Jacob!
I liked your Christmas special very much.
Thank you for this thoughtful and welcome piece on the Annunciation, Jacob.
Fascinating to compare Mary's response to Gabriel with Zechariah's in the preceding section of Luke 1.
Zechariah's reply expresses incredulity at an improbable conception - 'How can I know this?' or, in other words, 'give me more evidence'. Gabriel might have replied 'You've got a huge Archangel standing right in front of you. Isn't that enough for you?'
Mary's response to an even more improbable conception is belief. Her question 'How will this be?' in v34 is different from Zechariah's. She doesn't doubt the word from God sent via Gabriel. She's just a bit puzzled as to how the conception will come about.
Poor Zechariah is punished for his unbelief by being struck dumb temporarily - until he demonstrates faith unequivocally (v63).
Mary is pronounced 'blessed' because of her belief in the word of the Lord. The pronouncement is made by the Holy Spirit, via Elizabeth (v45).
May you and your family have a blessed Christmas.
I hope you too had a blessed Christmas. You are absolutely right on the difference between Zechariah and Mary. The immediate faith and obedience of Mary and, at the presentation in the temple, Simeon, are models which we can but hope to follow.
We can all agree be we Protestant or Catholic ,we are all Christians and that Britain is still a white Christian nation.(At the moment).
My mother and I always watch "The Nativity"at this special time of the year .It is a remarkable production made in 2010,by the BBC and so well told in a simple way without being preachy and a load of Kant.Tackles head on the problems Mary would have faced being an unmarried mother etc.It is so well regarded it is recommended in Schools etc by the Bible Society.I am delighted to be able to recommend it to my fellow subscribers as a proud WASP(White.Anglo Saxon Protestant).P.s My mother was not an unmarried mother ,though I've often been referred to as a bastard.
Thank you for talking about the Blessed Mother. We need to call her blessed as all generations have as Gabriel told her. Beautiful chapel-is that one in your house? Lovely! Praise to the Trinity and the Blessed Virgin's "fiat" and a Merry and holy Christmas to you all!