THE RIGHT FIGHT

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A lot comes to mind about being on the offense when in a conflict.  In some common understanding it is zero-sum, violent and humiliating.  At times the context is fear of any conflict because one thinks about how ugly it can be and to be unsuccessful in defending ones self.

It could shock many people but Jesus addressed spiritual conflict instead.  In teaching the Lord’s prayer he ended it with “deliver us from the evil one”.  It is a petition for a heavenly Father to do the protecting.  Christians see God the Father as “our Father” by finding identity in Christ.  Between the “our Father” and “deliver us” we find reverence, surrender, dependence, receiving and giving forgiveness and desiring to avoid temptation if possible.  In such a well rounded place of relationship to God his protection from Satan is there.  And make no mistake: Satan’s intent is our damnation.

Jesus commissioned a spiritual offense for earthly influence.  In Ceaserea Philipi, a Roman military outpost in Palestine, Jesus told Peter a plan of high influence.

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of deathshall not prevail against it (Matthew 16: 17-18).

All the other times Peter is referred to on whose son he is it is “son of John”.  But Jesus is not making a mistake as he spoke in prophetic and cultural implications.  Here are two Jews speaking each other in a clear understanding of Jonah the prophet.  His mission was to preach repentance to the greatest enemies of the Jews at his time.  He went right into the belly of that empire and effected change.  Peter personally, and the Church Jesus founded, would be later put on a collision course in Rome which was the heart of the Roman Empire. Therefore, it was fitting to call him son of Jonah for his calling and in a way of all Christians.

In addition the Roman application is not the epitome of the “gates of Hades”.  Christians are to be a light in opposition to demonic darkness in some way.  Paul wrote later in his ministry to the Ephesians, “we struggle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and rulers of darkness in high places” (Ephesians 6:10).

But earlier in Paul’s ministry he spent two years founding the church in Ephesus.  Good grew along with evil.  Those who fell in between included posers to those fighting on the side of Jesus and his general Church.  Clarity between light and darkness was bound to happen.

And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, mastered all of them, and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; and fear fell upon them all; and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Many also of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily (Acts 19:11-20).

And God did extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul– – God used Paul.  Luke is aware of that and there is every implication that Paul is dependent on God as an instrument of him.

so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them– – Here is a minister working in a full authority that effected the social, physical and spiritual environment.  He also walked in a high level of the holiness of God.  In salvation history God would work through his anointing in a Christian that desired holiness above all else by using relics that touched them.  Case in point here.

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits– – Their attempt was based on the presumption that the name of Jesus could be just another catchphrase.  The word for “pronounce” here is onomazō which means to bear the name of a person or thing.  The name of Jesus for ones salvation or any kind of saving of another is not just a word but meant for confession of an authority that supersedes all others.  The confession of Peter was that he is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).  The difference with Peter is that he had faith.

I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches- – If you do not truly confess Jesus as Lord then one does not get the benefit of connection to the Church he founded. More presumption here.

Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?– – Demonic forces do not like it but they recognize true spiritual authority.  As an apostle Paul’s sacramental role was that of a bishop to this area.  Apologist Jesse Romero has assisted exorcist priests in exorcisms.  When they are doing minor work against oppression that is one thing, but for major full possession the priest is called.  The priest may call the bishop for his release in authority.  When the priest hangs up the phone in the other room after the release the demon manifests in fear and often soon leaves.

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, mastered all of them, and overpowered them– – They were not in God’s family (defense) and they could not operate in an offense that works as an additional effect in Christ’s authority.

And this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; and fear fell upon them all– – Paul was described a few generations later by young converts that grew older as a short, bald, bowlegged man.  And he was not overpowered while these seven young men were.  The contrast was astonishing.

and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled– – The more the difference between light and darkness is delineated, the clearer the path of conversion to Jesus as Lord and Savion.

Many also of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices– – This also goes to ongoing conversion.  There is an essential ongoing sanctification in accepting the engrafted word of God that can save the soul of the Christian in an ongoing way (James 1:21). This means a continual putting away of the deeds of darkness.  Here were Christians who came to realize maybe after two years of Christian catechesis they were dancing near or over the line into darkness.  The realization led to repentance.

those who practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all– – Not for the first time in the Bible nor the last in salvation history do we see the need to put away evil possessions that in turn can possess one’s soul.  Radical solutions call for radical acts of repentance.

So the word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily– – What is thriving here is a Christianity that thrives in integration with the Holy Spirit working in matter and form with beautiful, visible repentance.  In a most basic nature this is where the life of Christ breaks out in the Church.  Let every Christian be a Peter or a Jonah.

Big View, Long View

It is hard for some to overcome an in-group bias.  The “us vs. them” mentality is one that has existed throughout human history and is rarely overcome with an additional incentive of winner-take- all mentality. Christianity is not supposed to be stuck in a competitive rut but earnestly wanting and working for the good of the other.  This can only happen when the essentials of it flourish.  

This was the growth point in the early Church when Peter faced after his radical, eye opening experience with the “Other”.  Peter identified himself as a circumcised Jewish Christian who experienced Jesus as a Jew in good standing including rules for the moral, civil and ceremonial laws that uphold a temporal, theocracy.  He was about to testify that the Holy Spirit drew him to an experience that went beyond that three-fold paradigm.  

Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” But Peter began and explained to them in order:……And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. …..And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life.” (Acts 11:1-4,12,16-18).  

Now the apostles and the brethren– – – From a modern prism, there is much egalitarian emphasis for people to not be oppressed from authorities including religious ones.  If the gospel of Jesus Christ is expressed to whole world, a pivotal change has to occur both in those in authority and the laity.   The “apostles” reference point bears relevance in pivotal times of Church history. Pivotal times occur for renewal precisely to flow universally.  In 325 AD, 60 years before the first canonization of Sacred Scripture, we see the distinguishing four marks of the Church mentioned in the Nicene Creed as one, holy, Catholic and apostolic church.  The “C” of catholic is there because it is in tandem with the apostolic with denotes authority and multi-generational effect.  In fact, those four marks of the Church develop in integrated fashion through all of the book of Acts.  It was the intent of Jesus being played out robustly in making “disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:20).  

It is important to note why apostolic succession connects the relatability of this to the Church today.  Through the centuries there would be more encounters with more complexities. The need for apostolic succession is there because the recurring question would otherwise be, “By what authority do you interpret divine revelation this way and make it relevant to the situation we encounter now?”.  Faith is a personal experience in part but meant to be a connection to God and other people of faith.  

the circumcision party criticized him– – – Just in those terms alone we can decipher their mentality as antithetical to oneness and catholicity in the universal sense.  But there is some further irony here.  Up until this situation, there must not have been a circumcision controversy since it was default assumption every Christian was a circumcised Jews, prior convert to Judaism or Samaritan.  When sin and brokenness emerges, distinctions of man follow and these group must have been a very recent emergence.  

And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction- – – But the Holy Spirit did not get the division memo nor consult with pressures of religious sensibilities.  Peter is noting what the Spirit said and the very characteristic trait the circumcision party was particular about. He is also making the point that there is a decision he is making based on one made for him by God and outside of their box. 

It is worth considering the reason for the distinction of circumcision. But the Jewish box they were used to was was based on history and on past needs for the development of the people of Israel; a dividing line seemed reasonable for a lot of reasons. This can be found in the Old Testament with three subcategories for difference in genre of the Law of Moses.  

One was ceremonial in the sense of expectations for any one to be a priest or even participate in the sacrifices as one giving an offering.  For one to be worthy of the temple life with the levitical priesthood, to be uncircumcised is to be unclean.  But in Christ there is one sacrifice on the cross as the Bread of Life.  

Second was civil.  This compliment the dream at the time for Israel to enter and occupy the Promised Land with a clause for a king to be appointed.  Thus it would be a divine civil law that would reinforce the borders and cultural norms to make Israel have distinction.  At that time this was a good thing since it was consistent with God’s purposes for that age.  The only category that was left was the moral law (like the Ten Commandments) which Jesus did reinforce categorically.  

The third was moral.  God wanted Israel to be holy but the covenantal foundations that stood on where holy but not correctly addressing the needs of humanity regarding sin.  The first two were feeble ways to support the moral conscience but was still a form of submitting to God as a slave and not knowing God as Father.  

But with Father sending the Son, the time for such distinctions here was over.  Years later Peter reflected on this in light of the fact that God had raised up a new, spiritual Israel in Christ.    

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were no people but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).  

Later Paul was able to articulate the lack of distinction centered on the new circumcision known as baptism and how the Church is embraced into the fellowship with the Blessed Trinity.   

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:1-6).  

These six brethren also accompanied me– – – The bridge of the grace of God from the Old Testament to the New continues.  Peter is a Jewish Christian talking to others of his background who are skeptical at best on him eating with the Gentiles who then “received the word”.  

As Jews they understood the meaning of covenant in the Hebrew language in the readings of the Torah. Salvation history up to this time was in six covenants.  Six covenants, six brethren.   

What was important in so much of the Torah was word “covenant”.  This word goes beyond the modern, Western idea of a contract on “what you have is mine” but instead “I am yours and you are mine”.  It is an exchange of persons.  God made six covenants with his saints in the Old Testament.  As Jewish Christians, they believed Jesus was the seventh in offering his body and blood as the Lamb and Bridegroom saying, “This is my body”.  

But also in major transitions or reaffirmations of God’s nature its says, “God swore by himself”.  That term is “shevnah” which literally translates God “sevens himself”.  Which brings us to the math of Peter here: Six plus one equalling covenant and the Gentiles can be included in it.  

John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit– – -It is no coincidence that Stephen was described as “full of grace and the Holy Spirit”. And we know from St. Thomas that, “grace perfects nature”.  What Peter is winding towards in expression is that the flesh would be further dignified because baptism with water and the baptism of the Holy Spirit would be a better and redeemed anthropology for humanity through Christ.  In fact, grace would reinforce such optimism that the flesh would not need to shed blood to satisfy a bare minimum.  

who was I that I could withstand God?– – – When they heard this they were silenced – – – Peter is implying how high and low his authority is at the same time.  Looking at many verses, there are many compelling scriptures that support the primacy of Peter.  If he was the apostle that presided in the greatest level of authority then what he implied is that with him having the highest level of authority in the earthly experience of the Church even he had recognized this was God’s handiwork. The fellow apostles were silent because there was no further room for deliberation in this specific gathering.  Sadly, there were others of the circumcision party that would take up their mantle.  

Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life.– – This stands in contrast with how they may have thought.  What may have seemed logical up to this point on how they perceived the Great Commission would be that, “make disciples of all nations” was a reference to the remnant of Jews that had been scattered in the Diaspora.  The gospel of John had not yet been written but one day it would be read in the Church that, “whosever believe in him…” (John 3:16).  

Some of this group discussion was in processing a personal testimony of the gospel in action and some was overshadowed by the task of the apostles.  In properly discerning for themselves and taking to heart the direction of God through Peter, their faith in God had to get bigger.  God’s grace through the ages has wider and wider reaching momentum while always grounded in truth.  The work God does in pouring love in our hearts is meant to illuminate the light of Christ to the world.  The Church must always stay open to that.  

Dialogue Over Lecture

For those who like to preach at people there can be a lack of listening from those they engage with.  An important thing to do is listen to their philosophy and experiences and be open to how their stories may have echoes of God in there. Some of what they may talk about may sound like the hand of God getting their attention without even the use of formal, human vessels.  On those parts especially, a Christian in listening mode should not have anything to be afraid of.  This can come from a perspective that is called by some theologians as affirmative orthodoxy in that they affirm what is right teaching.  

Such is the case when Cornelius the Gentile has Peter the Jewish apostle under his roof in what is for both sides an uncharted territory.  

Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us” (Acts 10:30-33).  

Cornelius answered– – – As alluded to above, Cornelius is given deference to share his story and explain why he sent for Peter.  This is now a dialogue and not someone being preached to in a up verses down way.  

Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me – – – Some of those seeds that God directly sows into the hearts of those we share the gospel with may seem like shell shock to them.  But this can be the gift of wonder which is a grace filled version of what is called in the Old Testament “the fear of the Lord” yet directing us to change.  Miraculous turning points can happen without the hand of man being involved.  

‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor’– – – This may seem like a contradiction to the narrative shared already on God’s initiative but is not.  What was said before was  “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4).  Both can be true but the respective statements are written strategically.  The memorial reference was about man’s best attempt to reach God without the knowledge of the gospel yet knowing a goodness in the natural law that points to God.  But “God has heard your prayer…” is God’s acknowledging a sincere heart that was in touch with what Fr. Luigi Giusanni calls the “Religious Sense”.  God is shown in this emphasis to Cornelius as all-knowing and all-loving.  

Now we are all here in the presence of God- – – The rightful conclusion Cornelius comes to is God is thus all-present.  But we should read into the context of this.  This meeting has Peter and several companions coming.  Jesus said “When two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst”.  A biblically literate Christian can see that truth in hindsight, but Cornelius saw Christ through the presence of his Church.  For Cornelius to see this was from a gift of faith integrated with revelation. 

to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us- – Reading this calls to mind what Jesus said about himself and his the apostles of his Church. “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Luke 10:16).  

On its face this may seem like a dark verse to quote but it is not.  Jesus from the beginning preached the “gospel of the kingdom”.  This is a kingdom that allows for criticism on prudential judgement.  But on the deposit of faith, Cornelius conveys an attitude that acknowledges the authority of the Church as custodians of the truth of God.  From a heavenly based perspective, Jesus prayed about this call to fellowship for all who would come to believe in him in praying, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21).  This kingdom has the weight of love and divine authority at the same time.  There is no contradiction.  

There is always work to be done in the obedience of the Body of Christ.  So likewise, we should join in saying “Lord, here our prayer” in communion with the Church Jesus founded.  

PREP TO BE PATIENT ZERO

 

I remember reading a book years ago called the Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis.  He strayed from the Narnia mythology and wrote a series of letters from an elder demon to his nephew who saw Christianity as “The Enemy”.  Another way to see Christianity is as an inconvenience to selfishness of man and the forces of evil that an extreme individualism is prone to.  

With that in mind, what if the forces of darkness saw Christianity as a virus?  The things to look for would be kind of like what is in the biological kind to have a “breakout”.  If one were to look at the “Patient Zero” at the start of Christianity we see patterns emerge in that group. 

Acts, ironically written by a doctor, outlines what was going on in the ten days leading up to the “breakout”.  We see the Church that has the hope of Christ germinating by his words to be breathed into full life.  Acts shows in that first chapter the foundations laid to be an extension of the impact of Christ as commanded.  

When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James…. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers (Acts 1:13-14).  

they went to the room upstairs- – This was the same room where the Passover was celebrated in the Last Supper and the Eucharist was instituted.  This shows that the context of the Church had the normative preference to meet where they do what Jesus emphasized to “Do this in memory of me”.    

Peter, and John, and James…. The Church is hierarchal.  It has to be or it goes into disorder.  God places some in authority to be provide support and point to the continuity of the life and teachings of Christ.  Or in other words, to proclaim and demonstrate in a tangible way the presence and relevance of Christ in the world.  Much is still extended with all Christians but some gifting are distinctive.  

All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer– – Prayer is the soil of Christ being formed in the individual and the Church. Prayer joins us to the Trinity and being consistent with that is freeing in the person to be sensitized to be led in the right directions of joining Christ in a mysterious way. In prayer we relate to God on his terms, with our voices and in a life touched by grace.   

including Mary the mother of Jesus- – This points to a Church that is informed of the reality of God being Incarnate.  Mary being a theme of the gospel of the kingdom being robustly expressed has been crucial through Christian history.  This is why she was called the Theotokos later (Council of Ephesus, 431) meaning Mother of God.  Her being his mother is a simple reminder that Jesus was flesh and blood and really walked the earth and made a personable mark that was low key until he went public at the age of 30.    

So one of the men who have accompanied us throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.’ So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.  Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles (Acts 1:21-26).  

What we have here is a replacement of Judas which supports the continuity of apostolic leadership and being structurally prepared for the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said, not on a hillside to the public, but to his apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them in right teaching.  In a matter of days the Holy Spirit would come down and empower all of the church in the offices and gifts of the Spirit.  The word for office here is related in etymology to where we get the word bishop which is also called overseer (pronounced epeh and skopeh).    

Looking at this scene as a pre-launch stage for evangelization there are two points that should be noticed.  

First, if we don’t get the supporting points and how they are related to the doctrine and practice of the early church, we miss essential common threads through the other chapters of Acts, and at least the Ante-Nicene period (before 325) of church history.  

Second, and most importantly, we need to see this gathering hoping for the Holy Spirit to come as resting on the foundation of Jesus Christ. In our business we can forget that.  I recall a speaker I knew slightly named Don Miller who shared a story to Bible college students about a young man who got too much into loose living and lots of drinking.  He felt guilt, decided to go back to church and now lives a good life.  He quizzed the students on if there was anything missing and they affirmed it was complete.  He then pointed out that he did not mention Jesus at all.  

Jesus is not part of the context of life.  He is the real context of life and our humanity best makes sense in him.  Though we can take on right doctrine and right church measures, we can miss Jesus.  It should not be lost that the beginning of Acts 1 it is Jesus instructing his disciples on what matters and being lifted up into the heavens as the proper position for his perpetual priesthood.  In the beginning of the chapter Jesus ascends to heaven with the finished work of the cross and the glory of the resurrection.  When there is talk of revival or renewal, Christians must remember that Jesus is always the same and his priesthood in the order of Melchizadek is current and powerful.  If we bow the knee as Christians to that fact, to Him, we area ready to preach and actualize the gospel that infects the world with the virus that saves.  But how does that transforming gospel stay sustained best in the Body of Christ and flourish consistently?  We can find this played out seeing Acts 1 as a powerful set up this through lenses of Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.  

Mary–Warrior Queen (Forget Xena)

It takes two perfect people to have the perfect relationship. Some spouses will compliment the other one saying that the other person’s perfection makes it happen.  That sounds sweet, but it is not entirely accurate when humanity is involved but not so if one is divine.   But if one is divine and changes the setting for the human involved then the whole dynamic is different.

Such is the case in the Bible when one comes to Mary.  Here we see the most perfect collaboration between the infinite God, through an angel, and a finite, specially touched human.  She was specifically a young woman in an age where women were not highly esteemed.  But in relationship to God, she is empowered in a faith journey that is not for cowards of either gender.

There is another part to the historical backdrop in the Bible before getting to Mary: unfaithfulness.  God’s people in the Old Testament were described as unfaithful but struggled righteously and unrighteously.  God starts things anew with someone in Mary that had a context of being faithful to God and called to be on the offense.

  “And he [Gabriel] came to her and said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall 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.”(Luke 1:27-33).

Hail [Rejoice]— The “Hail” is not a casual “hi”.  If one looks at the correspondence of the first century between highly esteemed officials, this word is used only to someone of notable, royal distinction.  Mary had that going on as one set aside by the King of the Universe for a special station in life.

Yet from an Old Testament perspective there is a Zion, or Davidic dynasty, connection.  The following verse from Pope Benedict XVI is pointed out also with that same greek word, “Rejoice, daughter of Zion; shout, Israel…the king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst” (Zephaniah 14-17).  Pope Benedict also states, “The essential reason for the daughter of Zion to rejoice is stated in the text itself; ‘the Lord is in your midst’.  Literally it says: ‘he is in your womb’ (Pope Benedixt XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives).  What is being heralded in just that word alone is like a shorthand for God’s kingdom to come—- and is coming now.

Full of Grace—  The original Greek is Kecharitomene, the perfect passive participle, shows a “completeness with a permanent result. Kecharitomene denotes continuance of a completed action” (H. W. Smyth, Greek Grammar [Harvard Univ Press, 1968], p. 108-109, sec 1852:b; also Blass and DeBrunner, p. 175).  Or, as I have seen in my journey into the Catholic Church, she was too full of grace to have room for anything else.  Therefore, to me, she stands as the perfect prototype as the Theortokos (God-bearer) for what the Bride of Christ is supposed to be.  The words I have commenting on here and others to come in the infancy era of Jesus indicated she was without sin.  The Early Church Fathers were unanimous on this point.

So here we have royalty for a grand scale and grace with even grander ramifications all set for an expanding influence as demonstrated by—-

The Lord is with you…she was greatly troubled—-  This is not a goose bump phrase. This phrase in the Old Testament was for servants of God like Moses, Joshua and David who would go into the land promised to them by covenant.  They were used by God for natural warfare for that level of revelation.  Mary was to be used, launched by covenant, to expand God’s influence through a spiritual warfare but at that moment she did not know that.  She just knew that this greeting indicated a level and form of influence beyond what she would think was her humble state in life could handle.  So there was some fear there.

Do not be afraid, Mary… you have found favor with God. — Mary was full of grace but Gabriel elaborated that God’s favor for her and her mission was for that grace to overflow by the direct hand of God with one undeniable fact—  the source and summit of the grace and favor for her was external to her in God.

Gabriel— then gives her a micro-blueprint of the gospel and what church is supposed to be like.

you will conceive—  as the angel unfold’s God’s plan for her life there is a connection to the Incarnation.

you shall call his name Jesus—- Jesus means “God saves”.   The Incarnation means salvation is some way yet to be revealed.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;—-  Here is the framework in that it will be in the pattern of David as the throne is from David.

and of his kingdom there will be no end——  The declaration of God Incarnate and being savior of the world happens within a framework of a kingdom that has no end and thus a continuation.

On the devotional side, how can a modern person relate to these lofty subjects?  Well, we know through the rest of the story that Mary cooperated with a kingdom that is personal, holistic, authoritative and beyond our early lives.  These are ways that God initiates to us for full participation.  But in some ways our calling is not as good as Mary’s in that moment.  She was to carry God in her womb.  If we respond in the same humility to the gospel of the kingdom, we carry Jesus in our hearts. Could that be better?  Could that be possible?  What’s stopping you?