Mary: The One Who Teaches Us How to Trust
Luke 1: 34 NRSV: Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
Note: I want to be clear that when I am interpreting Biblical I am not necessarily arguing that they literally occurred. In fact, there is no way to prove that the virgin birth or any of the miraculous events recounted in the gospels literally happened. We weren’t there to witness them and the gospels were written a significant amount of time after Jesus lived and died. Instead, I am interested in how these stories can shape our faith
Oftentimes trust in God is depicted as being obedient without question. In some Christian circles, questions are discouraged, instead, uncritical obedience is expected. And there are Bible verses that can be interpreted as portraying asking questions as “bad.”
For instance, in Luke chapter one, Zechariah responds with disbelief to the angel Gabriell who tells him that Elizbeth would give birth and as a result of his disbelief, Zechariah is rendered temporarily mute.
And yet, when Mary is told that she would give birth, she also questions how that would occur, but instead of being punished, the angel Gabriel patiently explains to her that her pregnancy would be a miracle from God.
Perhaps Gabriel didn’t appreciate Zechariah’s tone or Zechariah should have remembered the story of Abraham and Sarah in which Sarah gets pregnant when she is already advanced in age, or perhaps Gabriel reasoned that since Mary would be the one having to navigate the emotional and physical dangers of pregnancy, that she had more than earned the right to ask questions.
Regardless of the reasons why Mary and Zechariah are treated differently, the point is Mary doesn’t just accept what Gabriel says, but she asks questions. And when Gabriel tells her that her cousin Elizabeth would also be giving birth, Mary visits her.
To be sure, perhaps the visit was predominantly one of two pregnant women seeking comfort with each other as they navigate the pains and challenges of pregnancy, but what if Mary was also seeking confirmation of what she had been told? Perhaps, she still struggled to believe that Garbiel’s announcement wasn’t a dream.
Mary stands as an example of trusting in God and still asking questions and gaining confirmation. Asking questions is not antithetical to trusting in God. Too often, Christians, especially those with a measure of power have taught that trusting in God means being silent and obeying church leaders without question, but that mindset is dangerous and sets the stage for people to be exploited and abused.
Additionally, sometimes we humans are so convinced that God is telling us to do something that we aren’t aware that perhaps we are just imposing our own desires on God. For example, God probably isn’t telling you to go to an isolated island and spread the gospel to people who have never had contact with the outside world.
Or God probably isn’t telling you to harass queer people and “convert them.” (we don’t need to be converted.) God is not going to ask you to act in ways that are contrary to compassion and justice. Asking questions and gaining confirmation, can ensure that we are acting in ways that are in line with God’s love.
God can handle our questions, doubts, and desire for confirmation.
Image: Brown and gray background, Image of a white index card with a piece of tape on it. Text: Asking questions and gaining confirmation, can ensure that we are acting in ways that are in line with God’s love.