The angel Gabriel went to Mary and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28 The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary saying, "Greetings favored one, the Lord is with you." Knowing of God's presence helps Mary understand this holy interruption. She doesn't know why an angel would disrupt her daily life since angels appear and change things. Look what happened to Hagar. And how about the angel appearing to Moses in a burning bush. These people's lives were dramatically changed. Would her life be dramatically changed too? She probably asked herself— Am I favored? Is God with me? What will this involve? Gabriel informs Mary she will conceive, bear a son and name him Jesus. The angel describes this child's identity and destiny. Yet Mary responds saying, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." The story of Mary and Gabriel doesn't include the realities of the ancient world. Mary li...