Friday of the
Third Week of Advent
(Isaiah 7:10-14; Luke 1:26-38)
The infancy accounts in the gospels of Matthew and Luke
differ significantly. In Matthew, Joseph
receives the announcement of the angel that the savior is to be born. In Luke, as seen in today’s gospel, it is
Mary who is so addressed. In Matthew,
Joseph and Mary live in Bethlehem and go to Nazareth only after Herod’s
attempted genocide. In Luke, they live
in Nazareth and go to Bethlehem to register in a census. There are quite a few other differences, but
the two accounts converge at significant points as well.
Both Matthew and Luke describe Mary as a virgin who
conceives by the Holy Spirit. This
article is not something that they made up or that one gave to the other. No, they both received it from an older
tradition. It is of great importance to Christian faith as it underscores that
Jesus is the Son of God. Mary gives him
a human nature, but he retains his divine nature given from his eternal
generation as Son.
“So what?” Some might ask out of ignorance. The Son of God becoming human – the Incarnation
-- gives history a new beginning. Human beings
are no longer destined to return to the earth forever. Like Jesus, their forbear, they have an
eternal destiny beyond the grave. The result
may be compared to the recreation of aviation with the jet engine. Flights on
jets are so fast and go so far that few would consider taking a propeller airplane. Similarly
Jesus promises that those who connect with him will conquer sin and death. “So what?” So we have the fullness of life!
