On the Feast of the Annunciation

Cross posted from the Confirm not Conform blog.

It’s the feast of the Annunciation, exactly nine months before Christmas, when we mark the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she will bear a child, the son of the Most High.

I think we all know intellectually that Mary was a teenager when this happened. I’m just not as sure that it occurs to us that Mary was, you know, a teenager. You know she must be, though. Here’s this angel standing in front of her and she has questions.

I do not get the “meekly bowed her head” image of Mary as she says, “Let it be with me according to your word.” It sounds rather imperious, if you ask me. What I fear is that we have created an image of meek acquiescence because we wish to promote that behavior in our own teens (or congregation members!). Meek acquiescence is easier to deal with than a teenager who upsets the status quo. But what teen did more to upset the status quo than Mary?

Mary shows us that when a teenager says yes to God what results may take a form that breaks the rules and changes everything. And all generations will call her blessed.

P.S. Happy birthday to Keisha Castle-Hughes who played Mary in The Nativity Story and who turned 21 yesterday!