3rd Week of Advent
Ask Father:
This week’s question: What would happen if Mary didn’t want Jesus?
Now there’s a scary thought! Embedded in your question is the deadly reality that Mary was truly free to say “No” to God (since God always respects our free will) – which made her “Yes” all the more wondrous. The fate of all the universe hung in a balance – poised on the razor-sharp edge between “Yes” and “No” in that moment of time. That’s what your question brings to the fore, so, as always, thanks for asking!
If we look even deeper, however, there is an even more critical question behind the one that you’ve asked. In fact, I might go so far as to say that – by today’s standards – Mary perhaps did not want Jesus. Now, before you pull out your hair, crying, “Blasphemy!” let me explain what I mean.
The real question wasn’t (and so isn’t) whether Mary wanted Jesus; rather, it is whether Mary would welcome Jesus. By all accounts, Jesus was definitely NOT part of Mary’s plan. She didn’t wake up on any given morning prior to the day Gabriel made his Annunciation thinking, “I want to have a child out of wedlock;” or even, “I think I will be the mother of my LORD.” No, Jesus was not what Mary had wanted – He was not part of her plan of parenthood or family. In fact, by today’s popular standards, His conception would have been seen as an unwelcome – or at best, an unintended – imposition on her personal-health-quality-of-life plans.
No, Mary did not want Jesus … she did something infinitely more human, loving, and beautiful – Mary welcomed Jesus! She did not respond to God’s messenger by saying, “Yes, I will do this. This is what I want.” Rather, she responded, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the LORD. Let it be done to me according to your word.” There is an abysmal chasm between wanting and welcoming, and it can be seen as the fundamental difference between Eve who wanted the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and Mary who welcomed the Savior of the World. Eve wanted, and so she took with lust; Mary welcomed, and so she received with love. A thing (the fruit) was wanted by Eve; a Person (Jesus) was welcomed by Mary. One led to our deaths; the other to our ultimate salvation.
So, I’m not sure at all that Mary wanted Jesus – but if she had not welcomed Him, you and I might have been forever lost. Thanks for another great question! Please share your thoughts or questions about this one online via our Facebook page. And keep those questions coming! May God bless you this Advent and always!