“Do not be afraid, Mary, You have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). This is what the angel of the Lord told the virgin Mary upon announcing to her that she would become the mother of Jesus, the holy one, the Son of God. Not something a young woman of virtue hears every day!

Many churches, between now and Christmas, may read the Christmas Gospel according to Luke and recall the angelic announcement to Mary, and our thoughts turn to this young maiden once again, who was betrothed to Joseph, a carpenter. Having the honor and privilege to become the mother of the incarnate Jesus (incarnate: True God in bodily, human form), causes many Christians to consider her a most revered saint in the Kingdom of God, and many prayers are offered her.

Yet let us look at Mary’s virtue and God’s choice to make her the mother of Jesus. As with another doctrine of Scripture, a common misconception is that if one does good in this life, his or her virtue will merit this individual favor with God with an outcome of eternal life, or going to heaven upon death. This is certainly, and scripturally not true. Because original sin exists in every human, we cannot merit eternal life on our own. Humankind needed outside help, which is why God sent His Son in the flesh to us, what we celebrate each Christmas. Only by the redeeming blood of Jesus shed for us do we receive His righteousness and God’s forgiveness of sins. So our good deeds are not a condition of our salvation, they are a response to it, to what Jesus has already done to assure us (as received by faith) of salvation as the gracious gift of God.

With this in mind, the question is: What did Mary do that made her worthy of becoming the mother of our Lord? Nothing. While Mary may have been a young woman of virtue, she still needed a Savior, as do all of us. Romans 3:23 reminds us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All means – all, including Mary. Mary was not free of original sin. She was born into a fallen humanity, as we all are. Mary was not special, and so God chose her. Mary became special because God chose her.

Yet God certainly chose well, an obedient young maiden with great faith. Upon the angel’s decree, Mary’s only concern was “How will this be?” Not ‘how can,’ but ‘how will?’ Mary had no intention of being unfaithful to Joseph or to God by committing any sort of indiscretion that would leave to her to be with child. Yet the angel explained that the Holy Spirit would overshadow her, and she would conceive by the Holy Spirit. And this woman of virtue replied, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).

Who would now believe the story of Mary as she explains to her parents, to Joseph, to her neighbors, that this once-in-history moment, never to be possible again would become her being chosen by God and blessed to carry the Savior of the world, the Christ-child, the newborn King? Despite what her family, Joseph and community would think or accuse her of, faith and obedience came first. “May it be to me as you have said.”

Yes, God chose well, but not because Mary was above the corruption of the heart, the sin that we are all born into. God’s grace is just that – undeserved favor that sets us apart for service to God’s Kingdom. Each of us, forgiven by the shed blood of Jesus, receives that favor through faith. This Christmas, and all throughout the year, this is what we believe.

If you would like further dialog on what we believe, visit one of our churches or correspond with us. Our church email is stpaullcfredonia@outlook.com. Sincere comments and questions please. Our churches are: St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fredonia (672-6731), Immanuel Lutheran Church in Gowanda (532-4342), and Trinity Lutheran Church in Silver Creek (934-2002).