too small to be among the clans of Judah,
From you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel;
You Mary, too small to be noticed by the world, are set apart by God to bring forth a strong shepherd for the flock of Israel. Not from human strength or glory does our salvation come. Only when you who are to give birth do so does his greatness "reach to the ends of the earth." We are given him who stands in the strength of the LORD through one who seems to be without strength. We are given peace by one who seems powerless. The world is perplexed.
You are not, O Mary, what you seem to the world. You are found to be with child and even Joseph, a righteous man, readies to divorce you quietly. But you are not what you seem O Mary. We interpret your weakness after the pattern of our weakness. Our weakness enslaves us, mother, but your weakness brings freedom to the world. Your weakness allows God to ensure "that all things work for good" in you. Our weakness subjugates us to the principalities and powers, the world rulers of this present darkness. We experience our weakness when we try to stand firm on our own. In your weakness you surrender everything to God by your fiat. And you are not abandoned. In your weakness the strength of God most manifest. An angel comes to Joseph to ensure you are protected. You bear a son and name him our savior. Through your weakness comes the one who will save us from our weakness.
It is not because you earn anything, Mary. You are made Queen by a gift. You are exulted as the new tabernacle and temple by the Divine Architect. You are made fit to give birth to Emmanuel, God with us, simply by allowing yourself to receive the grace of surrender from the Holy Spirit.
Teach us then, O Mother, not to be strong apart from the Strong One of Israel. Teach us to embrace the weakness in which God is strong. Let us allow ourselves to be earthen vessels so that we can clearly show from whom the surpassing power comes (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7). Then we will surely join you and the psalmist:
But I trust in your mercy.
Grant my heart joy in your salvation,
I will sing to the LORD,
for he has dealt bountifully with me!
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