Emmanuel. God with us. It does seem, as Ahaz suspects like more than we should ask from God. Perhaps we should just be content with the blood of bulls and goats even if that system is ultimately and frustratingly ineffective. Emmanuel could solve this. But isn't that too much to ask from God? It is too much to ask, except that he asks us to ask. He wants us to welcome him.
But Ahaz answered,
"I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
The incarnation is a gift which we could never deserve. Even Mary who was born and lived without sin did not thereby deserve the incarnation. Yet Mary is chosen to be the one who becomes the mother of Emmanuel. She is given the fullness of grace in order to welcome the word of God from the angel so that she might in turn give birth to the word of God in the flesh. Mary has difficulty with this word. We could imagine her saying that it is all too much for a humble handmaiden like her. But that would be false humility. She feels fear but does not close herself to the work of God because of it. She is greatly troubled at what is said but she trusts in the favor of God, manifested in the presence of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High, to make up for any like of knowledge or ability on her part.
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.
Because of Mary's yes Jesus receives the body he desires in order to draw near to humankind. He receives the very body that truly suffers, truly dies, and is now truly risen as a consequence of that yes. It is a yes that is empowered by the grace of God. Mary wants to show us how to say yes like she does in order that the presence of Jesus might fill the world through each of us.
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
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