Luke 1:36Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, the barrenness of women like Sarah and Rachel paves the way for the Virgin's miraculous conception.

To further convince you that the barrenness of these women was significant, consider the message delivered by Gabriel to the Virgin. Recognizing that these words might be beyond her understanding, he provides additional evidence to strengthen her faith. Observe how the experience of Elizabeth, her relative, is presented to bolster belief. "Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, who was called barren, has conceived a son in her old age, and is now six months along." The barren Elizabeth is highlighted for a reason; Gabriel intended for this example to inspire faith in the Virgin. Why did he specify her age, refer to her as barren, and point out their kinship? All these details were directed to help her accept the truth of the Gospel. Gabriel carefully waited until Elizabeth was six months pregnant before sharing this news, so that the undeniable evidence of her growing womb could affirm the miracle of conception.

Note the wisdom of Gabriel in this moment. He chose not to mention Sarah, Rebekah, or Rachel, although their miraculous births had also once been significant; these were events of the past. Instead, he directs the Virgin to the more immediate miracle occurring in her generation, which often holds greater persuasive power. By guiding her thoughts to Elizabeth's situation, he aims to elevate her mind toward the extraordinary nature of her own forthcoming birth. Thus, there exists a barren birth—lower than the Virgin's yet exalted above ours—bridging the gap between our births and that of the Lord. Through Elizabeth, a mediator in this divine narrative, he elevates the Virgin's understanding from the natural to the supernatural conception.

If you seek to understand more fully, consider the visible manifestation of the truth in the miracle presented to you. Do you wish to witness the embodiment of this wondrous birth? Look to your relative, Elizabeth. Her barrenness has been resolved beyond all expectation, making your own virginity, which remains intact, even more remarkable. She, once barren and elderly, has given life to the forerunner of the King who will be born of you, assuring you that the Lord resides within you. Go and visit Elizabeth, and should you find what I have described not to be true, then doubt my words.

The angel did not proclaim to Mary, ‘You are the sister of Elizabeth,’ but rather, ‘Elizabeth, thy sister.’ This distinction indicates that rather than suggesting that Mary belongs to Elizabeth's lineage, which would align her with the tribe of Levi, the wording implies that Elizabeth is connected to Mary’s line. Thus, it does not necessarily follow that Mary hailed from Levi. Moreover, we observe that the families of Judah and Levi intermingled through familial connections, such as Aaron marrying the sister of Naasson, leader of the house of Judah (Exodus 6:23), and Jodi the priest, who wed the daughter of Joram, a descendant of David (2 Chronicles 22:11). The very declaration of the angel regarding the close relationship between Mary and Elizabeth indicates that these tribes were intertwined through marriage.

In matters of the divine, the priestly heritage holds precedence, while in human matters, the royal heritage prevails. Thus, it was reasonable for their families to intertwine, ensuring that the priest holds royal status and the king embodies the priestly office.

While it is true that the Holy Virgin was unaware of Elizabeth’s miraculous conception, this revelation could still offer comfort in Her situation. Furthermore, the Angel presents this sign as an addition to his message, as a reward for Her faith. The intent behind this announcement was to encourage Her to embark on a journey, as both Mary and Elizabeth required this support. This reflects what we see in the Gospel accounts regarding the circumstances surrounding the earthly life of Jesus Christ and the Annunciation of His Nativity.

You may still question how this is possible; do not test, but instead place your trust in God's infinite power: look to your relative Elizabeth, who everyone believed to be barren, for she has been with child for six months, all through the miraculous workings of God’s power. I proclaim to you a marvel beyond compare: remember that nothing is impossible for God. "In that case," Mary responded with delight, "I am willing to be a vessel of God: I accept this willingly! Let it be done to me according to your word." And the Word became flesh.

Let us pause for a moment in this historical thread to allow ourselves a moment of sacred reflection. The event unfolding before us exemplifies the glorious promise of our salvation. We are aware of the beauty with which the Lord created us; we were not far from angels in our former state. The celestial powers engaged with us and shared the mysteries of the heavenly realm; wisdom herself rejoiced among the children of men—but we fell from this grace and lost our original splendor. We know that paradise will be restored to us, and we will partake of the fruit from the tree of life; all earthly woes will be forgotten, the spirit will be more closely united with the Lord than ever before, and even the flesh will be transformed into a spiritual being; the saints will prevail over sin and there will be unity within the soul—there will be tranquility and joy. We understand that these moments represent two dawns—the evening and the morning of our existence: they shine upon us amidst our trials with radiant joy. But how do evening and morning connect? How have we not been engulfed by eternal night, wrapped in despair? How shall the shattered vessel be filled anew with the aroma of heaven? How can the fallen nature rid itself of sin and decay? Where is the vivifying power that will permeate, cleanse, and illuminate all? Where is the life-giving authority that will eradicate sin, banish death, alleviate all sorrow, and manifest life, truth, and joy everywhere? It lies within the Word, which, at the moment Mary uttered, “Let it be done unto me according to your word,” took on flesh.

If souls beyond this life have any awareness of our earthly experiences, I trust the wise one of the Church who speaks to Mary: “Adam and his sorrowful descendants, cast out from Paradise, plead with you, Abraham implores you, David asks of you, all your ancestors dwelling in darkness and the shadow of death: grant consent to what the angel proposes. Why do you hesitate? Why do you tremble? Open your heart to faith, your mouth to confession, your womb to the Creator. Believe, confess, and receive. Speak the word and welcome the Word.” This Word has not merely begun the effort to restore humanity. This Word, who was from the beginning with God, that dwelt in secret with the Father prior to creation, who then revealed Himself as God in the act of creation (everything was made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made), who showed to the most exquisite of created beings more than just the Source of existence, but also life (as the breath of life, the tree of life reminds us), this Word, desiring to remain a light for humanity after man had lost his divinely-given life, sought to move from the innermost to the outermost; it could no longer be man's soul, but yearned at least to illuminate him like the sun.

And the light shines in darkness; the further humanity strayed from the welfare of its existence, the denser the darkness enveloped them. Their vision dimmed, and their entire being became obscured; yet, at times, this darkness was pierced by the brilliance of the Word; it broke through—first as inner spiritual illuminations and then as outward manifestations and revelations; it ignited a constant flame within the Scripture, the second Word of God; in other words, it so distributed its light among humanity that none were deprived of it, in their measure (the true light that enlightens every man who comes into the world); but the darkness—humanities’ moral failings, misguided thoughts—did not comprehend it. He was in the world, and the world was His, yet the world did not know Him. To clarify His expression, to penetrate deeper into the darkness, to become life for man and revive humanity, the Word became flesh.

And with Jesus, the divine and human natures started to intertwine, so that through the divine communion, the human became divine—not only in Jesus but also for all who, through faith, embrace the way of life He taught. There is undeniable hope that all things will be fulfilled: the Divine has come, united intimately with our fallen humanity, merging with our flesh and blood. Now every groan, every pain endured by its brethren here on earth, is surrendered to Him in heaven; and if He is all-powerful, it cannot be that He will not alleviate these sufferings and impart to our hearts the grace with which He is filled. Therefore, it is certain that He grants us these blessings. Thus humanity will be renewed: the earthly will be reunited with the heavenly; the Word will glorify His human nature through the resurrection, and all of humanity, ready to follow Him, as one body—will be sanctified, elevated, and presented to the Father, returning Adam, the progenitor, to the throne of the Father, restoring the unity that existed at the beginning, where the God of all will be all in all.

This marks the moment of significance in human existence when the virgin spoke to the angel, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” There are only two such pivotal moments in the vast expanse of time: the creation of humanity and its re-creation. The entirety of Jesus Christ’s earthly life—His sufferings and miracles, His humiliation and glory, His death and resurrection—revolve around that pivotal moment of His incarnation; all those 33 years were merely a continuation of the moment when the Word became flesh.

This humanity of Jesus Christ, conceived by the Virgin while still within her, is identified as holy, entirely untainted by the inherited sin of humanity, resulting from a conception that is not of human desire but solely of God (John 1:13, John 3:6). To affirm the veracity of his message, the Archangel presents a sign: the conception of a son by Elizabeth, an elderly woman who had been barren and who is also related to Mary, which aligns with the decree of God that Mary could confirm. This experience should have underpinned Mary's belief in the possibility of conceiving a Son without a human father as per God's command. The angel concludes by reminding Mary of a similar occurrence with Sarah, the barren wife of Abraham, and the scriptural words (Genesis 18:14). In response, the Blessed Virgin expresses profound humility and extraordinary faith in the realization of the mysterious nature of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word," she replies.

Filled with faith in this magnificent announcement, the Blessed Mary set aside all human concerns, and her unwavering faith and trust in God were clearly articulated in her response to the archangel: “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.