The Sundays of Advent give us a step-by-step preparation for the incarnation, the mystery of God-become-flesh. Today we approach the heart of the mystery in the story of the annunciation.

Luke’s telling of this event has many important roots in the Jewish Scriptures, each pointing to Jesus as the fullness and completion of God’s salvation begun in the history of the Jewish people. The archangel Gabriel is the herald of the final kingdom of God (Dan 9), and its fulfillment takes place exactly seventy weeks (Dan 9:24) from the time the angel first appears to Zechariah until the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The angel’s greeting to Mary recalls Zeph 3:14-16, and so the favors of the redeemed Jerusalem are found in Mary. The expression "favored" (= full of grace) has the significance of a woman who is pleasing to her husband (see Prov 5:18-19; 18:22; 31:10-11). Israel proved unfaithful as God’s bride (see Hos 1-3), but Mary was found perfectly faithful.

The titles of the son to be born of her (v 32) come from the vision of the prophet Nathan is 2 Sam 7:12-16. His name, Yeshua (Jesus is the latinized form), means "Yahweh (God) our Savior," and recalls two key figures in Jewish history: Joshua, who led the Israelites into the promised land (see the book of Joshua and Sir 46:1-7); and Joshua, the priest at the return from exile (see Zec 3:1-10; Hag 2:1-9).

The virginity of Mary (v 34) is a sign of God’s power. In the Jewish Scriptures, virginity stands for desolation of rejection (see Is 60:15; 62:4; 47:1-5; Jer 14:17; Lam 2:13; Joel 1:8; Amos 5:2; also Jdgs 11:37). Mary, in taking on freely this status of unfruitfulness, through her spousal relationship with God, becomes fruitful beyond measure in giving life to the Messiah, and through him, new life to the world. V 35 recalls the cloud which manifested God’s presence in the ark of the covenant (Ex 40:34-38), but, perhaps more pointedly, the Spirit (= breath or wind) here echoes the very act of creation in Gn 1:2 and 2:7.

David’s concern to build a permanent temple — a house for the Lord —reflects the need for a center of worship if the people are to remain united as God’s people. God rejects this thought at least for the moment, and counters it with the promise that he will be with David and his dynasty. His true temple will not be stones and mortar, but the people themselves with whom he dwells.

This psalm speaks of God’s promises to David to be fulfilled in Christ. Response: "Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord."

The "mystery" which Paul refers to is the entry of the Gentiles on the way of salvation that formerly had been promised only to the Jews. This is the theme of the entire letter to the Romans. And this is the secret (= mystery) of the world to come: that all humankind — even all creation (see Rom 8:20-22) — is to be drawn together and renewed in Christ.

1. How is Mary’s role in the coming of Jesus a model for us?

2. How do you conceive of God’s presence with his people and its implications for your own life?