Favoring Choice
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. [Gabriel] came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” – Luke 1:26-28 (NRSV)
[Content warning for sexual violence.]
Mary had a choice. Before she became pregnant, God sought her consent.
The story of the annunciation was a counter narrative to the well-known, frequently recounted sexploits of Zeus, the supreme being of the Greco-Roman pantheon, a serial rapist who regularly forced himself on women.
The Gospel writer drew a sharp contrast from Zeus. In the Gospel account there is no aggression, no physical interaction whatsoever. Mary has the option to consent to the angel’s invitation. Or not.
The story also carries an anti-imperialist message because Caesar Augustus, who was the Roman emperor at the time of Jesus’s birth, was hailed as the “Son of God.” Augustus was said to be the product of a nonconsensual encounter between the god Apollo and a woman.
In other words, it was and is very important on theological, social and political levels that Mary agreed to this pregnancy, that it was not forced upon her.
In our time, we might think: “Okay, but did Mary really have a choice? The power imbalance can’t be ignored!” Fair point. However, compared to other ancient religious stories, Mary’s experience was a staggering turn toward female agency and reproductive choice.
God seeks consent. God favors choice.
Prayer
Today, may I hear angels whispering, “Hail favored one, the Lord is with you.”
About the AuthorMatt Laney is co-Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA and the author of Pride Wars, a fantasy series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers. The first two books, The Spinner Prince and The Four Guardians are available now.