I was just thinking how grateful we all ought to be that Mary was not one of the strident "liberated" women who are so vocal these days.  Had she been, there is a good chance Jesus never would have been born.

     I repeatedly hear statements like, "It's my body.  I have a right to decide when and whether I will get pregnant.  And if I get pregnant, I have the right to decide to abort if I choose."  The talk goes on and on about rights, rights, rights.

     But Mary didn't stand on her "rights."  When the angel told her she was going to have a baby, she was no doubt shocked.  She could see immediately that this would be a "problem" pregnancy because she would be an unwed mother, unless Joseph came to her rescue.  She could be in a lot of trouble, and she didn't need trouble.  Poor people had their share of that already.

     Even if things worked out and Joseph went ahead and married her, there would be problems.  If what the angel said was true, this child would be "different."  And different children have a hard time in life.  Not to mention the grief their parents often endure.

     Yes, there were reasons why Mary might have drawn back from bringing this child into the world.  It was certainly going to turn her life upside down.  And had she been one of those women of whom I spoke earlier, she would have said no, or resisted the offer.

     But Mary had a very different attitude, which produced a very different response.  She said,  "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38)

     Instead of standing on her rights, Mary took the place of a slave (which is what "handmaid" means).  She voluntarily submitted to the bearing of this child.  And I am so glad she did.

     Now I can almost hear someone saying, "Wait a minute.  That child was from God!"

     Aren't they all?