The spectacular announcement of the angelic announcement that Gabriel, the angel, made to Mary, a Galilean virgin peasant girl, cannot be over-exaggerated. It was, and is, monumental in all its ramifications. Upon hearing what Gabriel told her… that she was to conceive in her womb and bear a child, that the child was not just any child but the One and only who would be called the Son of the Most High, and that this Son of hers would be the recipient of His Father David’s throne…Mary was understandably perplexed. Consistent with her confusion, she inquired, “How can this be? I am a virgin.” It becomes obvious that Mary knew how babies were made and that she had never entered into such a relationship with any man. “Not to worry,” said Gabriel, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you, and, for that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.” This was, and is, utterly astounding. It was astounding to Mary, the mother-to-be, and it was astounding to the point of disbelief to Joseph, to whom Mary was engaged. Indeed, how could this be? A baby? A conception without a male donor or involvement? Impossible!
Well, of course, it’s impossible. That’s why it’s called a miracle. Miracles are not possible; they are impossible. If they were not impossible, we could perform them. But, because miracles are not humanly possible, we can’t do them. But, with God, all things are possible. In fact, God specializes in performing the impossible. It’s part of His job description.
And, here in the incarnation, the infleshment of deity blended with humanity so as to produce the one and only God-man, the Holy Spirit is behind it all, and with Him, the incarnation became job number one. Joseph, Mary’s husband-to-be, was told by this same angel, Gabriel, “not to be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” Now, precisely, where did the Holy Spirit get the immaculate, uncontaminated male sperm to implant in the womb of the Virgin Mary? From the same source that God got everything which He created, including the very heavens and earth. It’s called “ex-nihilo”, out of nothing. God used previously non-existing materials…nothing…to make what He, then, fashioned into something. In this case, someone. Miracle of miracles! The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” said John. Once again, we find all three members of the Trinity operative in one of heaven and earth’s greatest events. That which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit… never before and never again, but we are so grateful for this One.
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