Have you ever noticed that our Blessed Mother’s first words in the Gospel of St. Luke are repeated, in one form or another, throughout the gospels? Luke 1:34a reads, “But Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be?’"
How can this be? The people of Nazareth were thinking much the same thing when they asked, “Is he not the carpenter’s son?” (Mt 13:55a), after hearing Jesus speak with remarkable authority and wisdom. I imagine that His disciples asked themselves the same question as they gathered up twelve basketfuls of leftovers after having served five thousand men with only five loaves and two fish. And then there was Nicodemus - a leader of the community, a well-educated man - but when Jesus told him that he must be born again, he was completely baffled. “How can this happen?” (Jn 3:9). Perhaps most disheartening for Jesus was the people’s response when He said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (Jn 6:51). Again, they wondered, “How can this be?” and many of them “returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him” (Jn 6:66).
These are some of the most essential mysteries of our faith: the mystery of the Incarnation and the divinity of Jesus, of rebirth in the Spirit and of the Eucharist. Jesus had devoted the major portion of His ministry to answering these difficult questions as He unveiled the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Because Mary was not challenging the angel when she asked, “How can this be?” God gave her the grace to take Him at His word. But sadly, Jesus often came up against closed minds and hardened hearts. To use a modern expression, He wanted them to think “outside the box,” but old ideas die hard; and His efforts to enlighten the people were not always well received. St. Matthew devotes the entire chapter thirteen to Jesus’s teachings regarding the Kingdom of God. In the final verses of this chapter, Jesus returns to Nazareth and again meets resistance. “And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith” (Mt 13:58).
Every day, the readings of the Church give us the opportunity to sit at the feet of the Master and listen as He unveils the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. If we listen with open hearts, doubts and questions won’t lead us to turn away. We can stand beside Peter and say, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).
These are some of the most essential mysteries of our faith: the mystery of the Incarnation and the divinity of Jesus, of rebirth in the Spirit and of the Eucharist. Jesus had devoted the major portion of His ministry to answering these difficult questions as He unveiled the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. Because Mary was not challenging the angel when she asked, “How can this be?” God gave her the grace to take Him at His word. But sadly, Jesus often came up against closed minds and hardened hearts. To use a modern expression, He wanted them to think “outside the box,” but old ideas die hard; and His efforts to enlighten the people were not always well received. St. Matthew devotes the entire chapter thirteen to Jesus’s teachings regarding the Kingdom of God. In the final verses of this chapter, Jesus returns to Nazareth and again meets resistance. “And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith” (Mt 13:58).
Every day, the readings of the Church give us the opportunity to sit at the feet of the Master and listen as He unveils the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. If we listen with open hearts, doubts and questions won’t lead us to turn away. We can stand beside Peter and say, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68).