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A difference in reactions (or, Blessed Mary, ever Virgin)

Written by

PaulSmithJr

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Today's Gospel reading is Luke's story of the angel Gabriel telling Zechariah that his barren wife will become pregnant and bear John the Baptist. (Lk 1:5-25) (No relation to Jeff the Baptist, I believe.)

Whenever I read this story, I can't help but compare it with the story of the Annunciation, where Gabriel tells Mary she will become pregnant with the Son of God. (Lk 1:26-38) In both cases, a miraculous birth is foretold and the hearer of the message expresses surprise that such a thing could happen. In one case, the questioner is struck dumb until such time as the angel's wishes regarding the child's name are followed. The other questioner, however, has her question answered.

Why the difference?

Zechariah's response is somewhat natural as his wife was barren and old, beyond the age of fertility. Of course he wonders how such a thing could be possible. Mary, on the other hand, is young, fertile and about to get married. We know she knows how babies are made since she asks about having no relations with a man.

We can assume Zechariah and Elizabeth were having "adult relations," as they call it on 7th Heaven. I doubt many married couples abstain from sex simply because they can't have children. So they were engaged in "the baby-making thing," as a book I once read referred to it.

Mary, being about to get married shouldn't have been shocked at the notion of becoming pregnant. The Angel didn't specify a timetable for her pregnancy, it could have been at any time in the future. So why her surprise?

The answer can be found in the tradition in the Church (especially in the Eastern churches) that Mary had consecrated her virginity to God and that Joseph was a much older man, who would not object to taking care of a wife who had taken a vow of virginity. This also can provide an explanation of where Jesus' brothers came from, if Mary truly was ever virgin: They were Joseph's children from a prior marriage.

This can explain what Zechariah was punished for questioning how his wife's pregnancy could occur, while Mary wasn't for questioning hers: Zechariah was doing the activity that makes babies, while Mary wasn't and wouldn't be.

Crossposted at Gazizza.net

Comments

  1. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Not a bad article but it seems you failed to mention something I had always taken as obvious in the two stories. ( was there a reason for the ommission or maybe it is not as obvious as I thought).

    Zechariah – first response is ‘how is it possible for me to believe that?’

    Mary’s first reaction is ‘let it be done unto me as you will ( which is to say ok i believe you) and then she say but how will this come to be? ‘

    the angle is very specific that Zachariah’s dumbness is the resualt of his unbelief in the message.

    Mary trusted God and so also his message, she had absolute faith and believed.
    Zachariah doubted.

    To me that seems part of the message and a better reason that the two are set up and contrasted. I suspect the gosphel writters intended the contrast. If not themselves then he who inspired them would seem to have.

  2. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Actually, Mary's first reaction was to be "greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be." (verse 29) After the angel explains to her that she has found favor with God, she asks "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" It's not until after the angel tells her the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and reminds her of Elizabeth that Mary issues the Fiat in verse 38.

    She was just as confused as Zechariah was and needed it explained to her. While she might have been willing right from the start, confusion was stated first in the account we have, before assent.

  3. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Mary – Zechariah – both mighty now, on as Queen, the other as a saint who raised a sainted prophet – go figure, huh! God has His ways, and sometimes His glorious ends for us belie our weak ways.

    I remain your obedient servant, but God’s first,

    Pristinus Sapienter

    (wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or …yahoo.com)

  4. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Mary was not confused.

    A faulty translation is misleading. And the translation below is wrong.
    “How can this be since I know not man?” Lk 1:34.
    This is incorrect. Mary did not say, “How can this be …?”
    She said “How shall this be … ?”

    This first translation above is not only a mistranslation of the Greek, it also implies that Mary was committing a sin by doubting whether or not it could be done. Mary was not asking “can” it be done, but “How shall it be done?” You can read more about this below.

    http://members.aol.com/johnprh/neweve.html#PERPETUAL
    God bless,
    John Hellmann

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