The Virgin Mary: A Young Woman Chosen and Blessed by God Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:22-23

There was a young woman of approximately 14 or 15 years old not very well educated (apart from the Scripture she had memorized), poor and from a town no one cared since it was a place where those who were of mixed races. She really had not “bright” future or possibilities for advancement. Her only future, as it is in many countries where women are not valued, was to get married, be a mother and raise children. If everything went well, if all her children would survive. She was engaged to a young man named Joseph of Arimathea who was a carpenter. The age at which they could marry was 12 years and older. Today, a teenager cannot get married until she is 18. And although this young woman was not likely from a good status, from the moment she gets heavenly news from the angel Gabriel, her life changed radically. If she had any honor, it disappeared after this incident. She would never be looked upon by her contemporaries as a pure woman (of course, this wouldn’t be a problem in our times). This period of “betrothal” lasted from a month to a year. It was a time of waiting and preparation, but they considered themselves married. The sexual purity of women was expected (not so today). In case she found out that she was not a virgin, she could be stoned according to the Law. The man also had the right not to officially accept her as a wife.

But Mary was chosen and blessed by God by taking part in the most significant event in humanity, God the Son becoming human. God the Son decides to be human, and it all begins in the womb of this young woman named Mary. She would be “Christokos” carry Christ in her womb.

Today we will answer three important questions about her.