A Manger Seen, Week 1, Day 7

LUKE 1:34 | Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”

Mary questioned the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The word virgin is Parthenos, meaning young girl. The word conveys her gender, virginity and age all at once. Now part of her credulity was related to biology—unmarried virgins don’t have babies. But part of her surprise must have been connected to her femininity and circumstances. Since she was unmarried and female, her access to opportunities, resources and choices was severely limited. Entrusting the Messiah to her must have seemed almost absurd. How would she support the baby? Would he be stigmatized as illegitimate? How could he possibly be a scion of the royal lineage with her family background? But God was looking at her capacity for radical obedience. Willingness must sometimes be offered despite circumstances.

If you are a women, when has your gender held you back?
When we can’t see all the way forward we often don’t want to take the first step! Do you agree?
What current circumstance inhibits your obedience?

Tags: obedience, virgin