Characters of the Nativity - Mary: The Chosen Vessel of the Incarnation
- Rebecca Montrone
- Dec 6, 2025
- 3 min read
Meeting Mary at the Threshold of God’s Plan
Nazareth was an unremarkable village—small, dusty, easily overlooked. Yet in one modest home lived a teenage girl named Mary, engaged to Joseph, preparing for the simple rhythms of life: drawing water, grinding grain, weaving cloth, dreaming of a future in her new household. Nothing suggested destiny. Nothing predicted world-shaking significance.
Then, without warning, heaven broke into her ordinary world.
The angel Gabriel appeared, not in the Temple, not to a priest, but to a young woman quietly living out her faith. His greeting stunned her: “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you.”
Mary was troubled—not by pride but by humility. And then the news: she would conceive the Son of God by the Holy Spirit. The long-awaited Messiah would take on flesh within her very body.
Her response is one of the greatest expressions of surrendered faith ever spoken: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
With those words, Mary stepped into the center of salvation history. Through her, God entered the world He created.
Mary in the Story of Christ’s Birth
Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, the bearer of the Incarnation. She nurtures Him, teaches Him, carries Him to Bethlehem, flees with Him to Egypt, and treasures every moment in her heart.
She is the only person present at both the birth of Christ and the birth of the Church (Acts 1:14).
What We Know About Mary
Age: Likely in her mid-teens
Character: Favored by God, humble, obedient, reflective
Family: Relative of Elizabeth
Experiences: Annunciation, Magnificat, Bethlehem birth, Simeon’s prophecy, flight to Egypt, raising Jesus, witnessing His ministry, His death, and His resurrection
Disposition: A pondering heart, deeply responsive to God
Old Testament Prophetic Connections
Mary stands in the trajectory of God’s promises:
Isaiah 7:14 — “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son…”
Genesis 3:15 — the promise of the woman’s offspring crushing the serpent
Micah 5:2–3 — a woman in labor bringing forth the ruler from Bethlehem
The entire story of Scripture bends toward her “yes.”
Scripture Narrative (Luke 1:38; 46–49)
Her surrender: “And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’”
Her song: “My soul magnifies the Lord,and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…for He who is mighty has done great things for me,and holy is His name.”
Virtues Reflected in Mary’s Life
1. Humble Surrender
Mary’s “let it be” is the heartbeat of discipleship. She offered her will, reputation, and future into God’s hands.
Scripture for Meditation
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart…” — Psalm 51:17
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” — James 4:10
A Reflection Where is God asking me to practice surrendered trust? In what areas can I say, with Mary, “Let it be to me according to Your word”?
2. Courage in Uncertainty
Accepting this calling meant exposure to misunderstanding, scandal, and danger. Yet Mary walked forward with steady courage.
Scripture for Meditation
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” — Psalm 27:1
“Perfect love casts out fear.” — 1 John 4:18
A Reflection What situation in my life requires courage born of trust in God’s presence? How can perfect love quiet fear within me?
3. A Heart That Treasures God’s Work
Mary “pondered these things in her heart.” She slowed down, savored, listened, and let God’s works sink deep.
Scripture for Meditation
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
“I will meditate on Your wondrous works.” — Psalm 145:5
A Reflection How can I cultivate a more reflective, contemplative posture in this season—slowing down to treasure Christ with intention?
Personal Advent Reflection & Invitation
Mary’s life teaches us that God delights to work through humility, purity of heart, and simple faith. She did not achieve greatness—she received it by grace. Her story invites us to live as she did:
open-handed to God’s purposes,
courageous in uncertainty,
attentive to His presence,
and joyful in obedience.
This Advent, consider:
What is God inviting me to surrender?
Where has fear been louder than faith—and how might His love quiet it?
How can I intentionally make space to ponder Christ each day?
Mary’s song of praise can become the song of every believer who yields to God’s redeeming work.
Closing Advent Prayer
Holy Father, Thank You for the humble, courageous obedience of Mary. Teach me to say “yes” to Your purposes with a surrendered heart. Grant me courage where I fear, rest where I strive, and wonder where I’ve grown distracted. As I contemplate the mystery of Christ’s birth, fill my soul with the same joy and awe that overflowed in Mary’s song. Let my heart become a dwelling place for Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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