Handmaid of the Lord (Sabong News)
Author
Manila Bulletin
Date
MARCH 25 2022
In declaring herself the handmaid of the Lord, Mary is saying that she is totally at the Lord’s disposal.
She does not mean to number herself among those honored by the title “servant of the Lord.” Yet for the evangelist Luke, this humble girl of Nazareth is “looked upon with favor” by the Lord. She is closer to Hannah, the mother of Samuel, who reacted to the news that God would grant her petition for a son with the words, “Let your handmaid find favor in your eyes” (1 Sm 1:18).
Mary, the Lord’s handmaid, has already found favor in the Lord’s eyes (LUKE 1:30). Mary as handmaid belongs to the distinguished list of women in Israel chosen by the Lord to accomplish his work of salvation.
Gospel • LUKE 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
