When the angel announced the promise to Zacharias, the latter doubted and wondered, "How shall I know this?" (1:18) though he had seen the glorious herald and heard his clear words. Yet, Mary did not doubt, but asked the angel, "How can this be?" She believed, understood and trembled in humanity at the impossible thing. Gabriel did not consider her question as doubt, but as an inquiry concerning the way and manner how the miracle should be made. Only God is qualified to answer such a question. It is not impermissible to ask God to clarify his ways in your life if you did not object to his designs.
For the sake of Mary’s obedient preparedness the angel revealed the secret of incarnation of the Holy Spirit in Christ, that is the Spirit of God himself with all his powers, abilities and glories was determined to dwell as a fetus in her. The fullness of the Godhead dwelt in the Son and the Holy Spirit himself was his essence. Man! Did you know that all the Holy Trinity was participant when the Savior of the world dwelt in the Virgin Mary? Our language is unable to express this culmination of human history and our mind is so small to realize how God loved us that he clothed his Son with the sufferings of the world and was embodied in flesh. Worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the One God, and love him with all your heart, for his love for the corrupt humans was the only motive and reason for the conception of Christ.
There was neither lust, nor sin, nor selfishness, nor impurity in this miracle, for the Holy God appeared in the Holy Christ who was in himself full of holiness and void of inherited sin. Even all the sinful motives of the seed of his father David and his followers that were found in Mary were overcome and changed into complete purity, divine power and eternal truth.
Man cannot realize the mystery of this moment without the Holy Spirit. Those who are not born of the love of God blaspheme on Christ and say that he was born of a human being. Yet, he who was renewed in repentance and received everlasting life from the word of the Gospel worships God the Father who sent to us his Son in the form of flesh.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is a true man from a true man and true God from the true God. He did not need a second spiritual birth. He is the Life-Giver who offers us, justified, his life through faith in him in order that we may become by his power children of God looking forward to his imminent coming which is our certain hope.
The strong angel gave the frightened Mary a clear sign so that she could believe what was impossible to believe, for the blessed one thought how could it be possible for a creature to conceive the Creator of the world in her womb. The angel showed her the divine miracle in Elizabeth her relative who was not of the house of David and became pregnant though she was barren. This was a further encouragement to her faith, which prepared Mary for the decisive word of the Lord.
Is anything impossible with God? Dear brother, do you believe in God’s unlimited power in your life, church and nation? Then do not give the lie to God and do not cheat yourself with human thoughts. Do you believe in God’s absolute power? Did you put yourself, your mind, diseases, friends and enemies before the throne of grace committing yourself in the hands of the Highest? Where is your love for him? How true is your faith? Take hold of God, and set your love upon him, for he is the Almighty who wants to save and is able to make salvation. He practically saves according to your faith. You are the door through which the grace of God is willing to enter into your surroundings.
Mary believed in the omnipotence of her Lord and opened herself to the will of love. Christ did not dwell in her without her consent. Through her humble submission she fulfilled the designs of the Highest. If Mary hesitated at that moment or refused the word of God, the world would fall and we would remain in our sins, reprobate and condemned by God. Yet, the Virgin was deep-rooted in the Old Testament obeying the guidance of the Holy Spirit in her life. She believed the prophecies and was able to accept Christ, the present of God to the world.
By her spiritual consent, Mary washed the shame attributed to woman since the fall of Eve and changed her weakness into glory. The Virgin suffered a lot for the Son of God who was placed in her heart. However, she bore the shame of accusation with patience, faith and thankfulness to her Lord throughout her life.