This passage is all about Mary’s simple yes and trust in the plan that God has for her. As I prayed with this passage there was something else that made itself clear to me. It is also about the excitement and joy in the salvation that God has planned for mankind.

Gabriel comes to Mary with the joyous greeting, “Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” Immediately his excitement in being God’s messenger can be sensed, but it continues as he talks. He begins telling Mary that she is going to conceive a son, but not any son, the son of God. But he can’t stop there. He just bursts into the next proclamation of God’s glory. Mary has to slow him down and ask the simple question of how. Again, he bursts into his explanation and then continues to show her God’s work in other places ending with ,”for nothing will be impossible for God.” He is ecstatic to proclaim the good news that Jesus is coming to free man from sin and restore them to life. I can imagine him finding it impossible to contain his delight that he has a part in sharing God’s salvation.

This is the way that I want to live my life. I want to be so excited about the life and goodness that God wants to share with everyone that I can barely contain myself. Because I am selfish though, I tend to only be excited for the things that benefit myself, but Gabriel shows us joy not in his own gain, but joy in the reconciliation of God and man. Let us pray that we may be filled with joy at the proclamation of God’s salvation.