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Breakfast With the Word 20th December
Luke 1:26-38
When we talk of how-can-this-be-possible situations, we mean those moments when we do not know what to do. This sometimes comes when we encounter problems and challenges.
There are moments when we find ourselves in situations that keep us restless. How-can-this-be-possible situations cause many to lose faith in God.
They are those moments we find it difficult to decide on how to survive. How-can-this-be-possible situations make many people question if God truly exists.
When we find ourselves in these situations, we begin to question how possible it is to have a solution.
So, how-can-this-be-possible situations are those impossible situations that keep us from achieving our success in life, they are those situations that keep shaking your faith. How-can-this-be-possible situations are situations in which we do not know what to do.
There are some moments in life when we are confronted with seemingly impossible situations and endless hard circumstances.
Sometimes, solutions to these situations become difficult and impossible. We begin to question our abilities and strength.
Sometimes, we may be confronted with certain situations which then prompt us to question ourselves and God even, because the case at hand seemed humanly impossible. When we find ourselves in these situations, what do we do?
Mary’s Encounter with the Angel Gabriel.
Today in the gospel of Luke 1:26-38, the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary the good news of being the Mother of the Messiah.
The Blessed Virgin Mary was caught up in this web of questioning “How can this be possible?”.
Mary asks the angel how can this be since she is a virgin and it is humanly impossible for such a message to come to fruition.
The Angel Gabriel knows this actually but the Angel knows that her case is only human. The Angel Gabriel also knows that God is involved in this and nothing is limited to God, for God is above the natural.
He assures Mary that the power of the Most High will overshadow her. This is a pointer that nothing is impossible to the power of God.
The Angel Gabriel knows that God is not and can never be limited by nature. So, the question “How can this be Possible?” does not exist once God is involved.
Mary’s Question and That of Zechariah.
The beginning of Luke’s gospel gives us accounts of two separate visits from the Angel Gabriel which has generated a little misunderstanding why the angel decides to punish Zechariah but explains to Mary.
To solve this, let us go back to the Greek original text. Zechariah says Κατὰ τί γνώσομαι τοῦτο (Kata ti gnōsomai touto). This means “by what will I know this? Many texts translate it like these; “by what signs will I know this? What will make me certain of this?”
Here, Zechariah, despite that He is a priest, was looking for a sign or something that will prove that what the angel is saying is true. In essence, Zechariah was looking for what will make Him believe. An indication that He doubts the message of the angel Gabriel unless a sign proves otherwise.
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But Mary says “Πῶς ἔσται τοῦτο (Pōs estai touto) meaning “how will it be” a statement of someone seeking for more explanation.
In essence, Zechariah is looking for “what” to point at as proof while Mary is seeking for the “how”, a process or way it will happen.
Zechariah needs a sign or something that will make him believe but Mary is seeking more understanding.
Hence, the Angel seems to become harsh on Zechariah because of his eagerness to look for a sign.
This attitude from Zechariah seems to question the integrity of the messenger. This is why the angel takes time and explains himself before striking his Punishment. Hence, Mary is like the apostles who in Luke 11 demand that Jesus show them how to pray.
The question of how demands explanation than a quest for a sign before one believes. Hence, Mary has already believed but needed explanation. Hers is faith seeking understanding.
Hence, Mary teaches us that to know God we have to seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13 says if we seek Him with all our hearts, we must surely find Him.
When We encounter How-Can-This-be-possible Situations.
How many times have we encountered certain situations that make us think and ask “How can this be possible?”. Sometimes we lose hope already because humanly thinking, it can never be possible.
When the Blessed Virgin Mary asks the Angel Gabriel how this can be possible, the angel Gabriel says to her “‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow”.
In this response, we see the power that destroys every impossibility. No impossible situation is beyond the power of the Holy Spirit.
To explain more, the angel Gabriel says “Know this too, your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God”.
Here, the angel Gabriel assures Mary that with man it may not be possible, but with God everything is possible. God is supernatural. He is above nature. Nature does not limit His power.
Therefore, when we find ourselves in how-can-this-be-possible situations, let us also not forget that such a question does not have power once God is involved.
The Holy Spirit is the power of God and a relationship with the Holy Spirit is the key. There is no power beyond the power of the Spirit of God.
Like the Angel Gabriel, let us always have the full assurance of God’s infinite Presence and like the Virgin Mary, let us also accept positively God’s inspiration, direction and word.
When we encounter such situations, let us take time and be listening to ourselves. We have to follow those ideas that come when we are praying or in our silent moments.
Also, Let us always obey His will. When God is leading the process, let us always trust what God is doing despite the challenges. We have to believe in His power.
In the midst of “How-Can-this-be-Possible situations, let us trust and believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to see us through.
May the power of God overshadow you dearest, and conquer all impossible situations in your life. Amen.
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