Fog of Confusion

By Fr. Jerry Pokorsky
Herald Columnist
(From the issue of 12/19/02)

There are a lot of confused people in the Bible. On the one hand, when the angel Gabriel reveals that the barren Elizabeth will bear a son, the Lord punishes her confused husband Zechariah for questioning the angel. On the other hand, when Mary finds herself "deeply troubled" by Gabriel's revelation that she will conceive a son and asks a similar question, she is rewarded. She becomes the mother of God. At first glance, the contrast in these accounts can confuse us.

The Gospel account of Gabriel's appearance to Zechariah is familiar. Zechariah's wife is barren. In God's providence, there is a need for a powerful preacher who would herald the coming of the Messiah. So God sends the angel Gabriel to Zechariah to inform him that Elizabeth would conceive. When Zechariah received the news, he is skeptical. "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." His focus is on himself and he demands to be convinced. He is confused, yes, but he is skeptical, even rebellious. Hence, the Gospel tells us that he is struck silent and is unable to speak until John is born.

The Gospel account of Gabriel's appearance to Mary provides a useful contrast. The angel greets her with, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" He reveals that she will conceive and bear a son, and she will call his name Jesus. "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary could have responded to the messenger with skepticism just as her relative Zechariah did. But if Mary was confused by the message, she did not respond with skepticism.

Mary did not ask Gabriel to justify himself. She did not ask, "How shall I know?" She asked, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" She responds with faith, seeking a deeper understanding. When the angel explains that "The Holy Spirit will come upon her, and the power of the Most High will overshadow her; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God," Mary responds in all humility. She exclaims, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word." And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us!

The account of the Gabriel's announcement to a confused Mary that she would become the Mother of the Redeemer confirms the mysterious goodness of God's plan as revealed by the prophet Jeremiah: "I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope. When you look for me, you will find me: when you seek me with all your heart." In the confusion of our daily lives, we need not fear God's plan.

There is no sin in confusion. Zechariah was not faulted for his puzzlement. He was punished briefly for insisting that the angel demonstrate to his satisfaction God's power and goodness. Mary, although confused, responded with a faithful question, her immaculate heart open to God's revelation. The message for us should be clear. The fog of confusion can only be dissipated if we open our hearts like Mary in unreserved faithfulness to God's loving providence.

Fr. Pokorsky is administrator of St. Peter’s Mission in Washington, Va.

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