Luke 1:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This was not borne of superficiality; rather, she uncovered an extraordinary and ineffable treasure of perfect wisdom, faith, and purity—attributes affirmed by the Holy Spirit when he declared her blessed as one who received the word and adhered to the gospel without reservation. When filled with the Holy Spirit, her mother referred to her as blessed, proclaiming, “Blessed is she who has believed, for there will be a fulfillment of what the Lord has spoken to her” (Luke 1:45).

Nevertheless, she did not exhibit skepticism nor refuse what was entrusted to her; instead, she humbly surrendered her will and pledged her obedience. When she said, “How will it be?” she did not question the reality of what would occur but sought to understand the manner in which it would unfold.

Her inquiry demonstrates a greater reasonableness compared to the priest’s response. She wanted clarity on how it would happen, while he questioned, “How will I know this?” (Luke 1:18). Mary was already envisioning the event, whereas he remained in doubt about the angel’s message. By rejecting the knowledge presented to him, he was unwilling to believe, resembling one seeking further assurance for his faith. In contrast, Mary’s pledge to fulfill her role came with the certainty that her request would indeed be realized: “How shall it be, when I know not my husband?” (Luke 1:34). Embracing such an extraordinary and unprecedented conception required an initial revelation of its truth. The virgin birth signifies a divine mystery, distinct from any human experience.

Mary's question, “How shall it be, when I know not my husband?” indicates that she does not doubt the promise but seeks insight into its unfolding. Her faith was evident; she believed the occurrence was assured if she was asking how it would take place. Therefore, she was blessed, as affirmed, “Blessed are you who have believed” (Luke 1:45). Indeed, she was blessed, surpassing the priest in faith! While the priest rejected belief, the Virgin dispelled confusion. It is fitting that the Lord, coming to redeem humanity (see: John 3:17), began His redemptive mission with Mary, allowing her to be the first to receive the fruits of salvation through the Son, who came to deliver all.

Faithfully, she asked, “How shall it be?” Although she understood that a virgin would conceive, the specifics of this divine conception were initially revealed to her by the angel in the Gospel. As noted, she referred to the Scripture, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son” (Isaiah 7:14), but the manner of this miraculous conception was first disclosed by an angelic messenger (see: Luke 1:35).

Her thoughts and language are so exact that we can appreciate the necessity of her inquiry as she presented it. This reflects our reading of the Gospel accounts detailing the earthly life of Jesus Christ, including the Annunciation of His Nativity.

If you are still questioning how this can happen, do not test, but trust in God's omnipotence; look, your relative Elizabeth, who was deemed barren, is six months along, also through the miraculous power of God. I present to you a far greater miracle: remember that for God, nothing is impossible. “In that case,” Mary replied joyfully, “I am willing to be the instrument of God: let it be done to me according to Your will!” And the Word became flesh.

Let us pause our narrative to reflect with reverence. The event we are witnessing is the culmination of our salvation. We recognize the splendor with which the Lord created us; we were a little lower than the angels, sharing divine communication and learning the mysteries of heaven. Wisdom herself delighted among humanity, yet we fell from that state and forfeited our original beauty. We understand that paradise will be reopened for us, and we will partake of the tree of life; we will cast aside earthly woes, and our spirits will connect with the Lord in an even more profound union; our bodies will be transformed into spiritual beings; the saints will conquer sin; divisions within the soul will cease, ushering in peace and joy. These represent the two dawnings—one at dusk and one at dawn—brilliantly illuminating our way as we navigate through darkness. Yet, what unites these dusk and dawn? How has the eternal night not ensnared us forever in despair? How can the shattered vessel once again hold the sweet fragrance of heaven? How will the fallen nature shed its sin and corruption? Where is the life-giving force that will cleanse and enlighten it? Where is that power that will annihilate sin, cast out death, alleviate all sorrow, and unveil life, truth, and joy?

This power resides in the Word, which when Mary uttered, “Let it be to me according to Your word,” took on flesh. If the souls of the departed are aware of what occurs on earth, I believe the church teacher who speaks to Mary saying: Adam and his unfortunate descendants, who were expelled from paradise, implore you, as do Abraham, David, and all your ancestors who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death: consent to what the angel presents. Why do you hesitate? Why do you tremble? Open your heart to faith, your mouth to confession, and your womb to the Creator. Believe, confess, and receive. Speak the word and accept the Word. This Word is not newly engaged in the task of restoring humanity; this Word, which existed with God in the beginning, the one who unveiled Himself as God in creation, which by Him all things were made and without Him nothing came into being, has made Himself a source of life for the most perfect of creation.

When humankind had lost its God-given life, the Word still sought to be a light unto them (for the Word was the light of mankind), transitioning from the inner being to the outer existence; it could no longer be just the soul—it aimed to illuminate mankind like the sun. The light shines in the darkness; as humanity strayed further from its origins, darkness enveloped them, their perceptions dimmed, and their whole being became obscured. Yet, at intervals, the light of the Word broke through the gloom; it shone through spiritual revelations and outward manifestations. Furthermore, it sustained a consistent lamp through the written word; indeed, it divided its light among humankind so that none were deprived of it (the true light, which enlightens every person coming into the world); however, this darkness—rooted in human iniquities and the surging confusion of the mind—could not comprehend it. The Word was present in the world, and though the world was made through Him, it failed to recognize Him. In order to express itself more clearly, pierce the darkness more profoundly and restore life to humanity, the Word became flesh.

As one Church teacher (Origen) notes, in Jesus, the divine and human natures began to intertwine, so that through the divine communion, humanity would also share in the divine nature—not only in Jesus but also in all who accept the life Jesus teaches through faith. There is now undeniable hope that everything will culminate; the Godhead has descended into the realm of sinful humanity with all its fullness, intimately uniting with our flesh and blood. Every sigh and painful sensation endured by His brethren on earth is presented to Him in heaven; and if He is Almighty, it cannot be that He will not alleviate these groans and afflictions, bestowing upon our hearts the blessings He possesses. Thus, humanity will be restored: the earthly will be united once more with the heavenly; the Word will glorify His human essence through the resurrection, and all of humanity, ready to follow Him as one body, will purify, exalt, and present themselves to the Father, ushering Adam, the firstborn, into the presence of the Father. Then, as in the beginning, God will be all in all. This pivotal moment in human existence was when the virgin spoke to the angel, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” In the vastness of history, there are only two such moments: the creation of humanity and its re-creation. The entire earthly life of Jesus Christ—His sufferings and miracles, His humiliation and glory, His death and resurrection—was intricately woven around the moment of His incarnation; or rather, these thirty-three years encapsulated the unfolding of that moment when the Word became flesh.

Otherwise, as she was engaged to Joseph as her future spouse, she could not have expressed, ‘since I know not a man.’ If it is indeed true that the Virgin made a promise of perpetual virginity to God, then it follows that she would have upheld that vow forever, particularly after receiving the honor of becoming the Mother of the Son of God. Her inquiry to the angel, ‘How shall this be, since I know not a man?’ affirms this commitment. In fact, she would not have posed that question had she not previously pledged to God her vow of virginity. However, given that such an arrangement was not typical among the Israelites, she was espoused to a just man, who would not only respect her vow but also shield her from others (Augustin. de Virgin, c. IV).