“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Luke 1:38
“Gods don’t love humans.” If there was one common understanding among most of the peoples of the ancient Hellenistic world, it is this. To love was to be attached to someone beyond oneself, to be vulnerable to pain or rejection inflicted by that someone, to be open to change brought by that someone. Such qualities implied weakness and would inevitably lead to dishonor and shame. And since the gods were not weak and would not tolerate dishonor, they did not love humans. The most humans could do to get them to act on their petitions was to appeal to their vanity, their honor, or their power.
But the Jewish people of the first century had a different claim about their God. Their God loved them. Loved them corporately and loved them individually. In fact, many were coming to believe, not only did God love them, God loved everyone. Which left God open to pain, to change and to caring about what happens to people. Which left God weak.
Almost as weak as a young woman with little status and no power. Yet, in contrast to similar stories of gods impregnating young women, Luke’s telling of Mary’s encounter with Gabriel gives space for her to say no. But she said yes. Just like that. And though the word “love” appears nowhere in this passage, it permeates it. The love between God and a young woman. The love between the young woman and her people as she joined with her body their hopes for a more loving future. The love among God, a woman, a people and a world.
Dr. Nancy Claire Pittman
President and
Stephen J. England Associate Professor of the Practice of Ministry
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