I can't do this...

“How can this be?” (Lk 1: 34)

Mary’s decision to become the Mother of God truly was a emptying of self, but it was not an easy one for her. We see in the narrative of the Annunciation that she was “greatly troubled” (Lk 1:29), as the calling that was being given to her was not exactly one to be expected. She was a young girl, technically single, and chosen to mother the Son of God. “How can this be, since I have no husband?” she asks the angel (v.34). “And the angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (v. 35).

I know that if I was told this, I wouldn’t know what to say. Think about it. How was she supposed to explain this to her parents? Nonetheless, she went along with it, as it was God’s will. How often do we find ourselves in situations that seem near impossible? How often does it seem that God expects us to do something out of our control, or even something that will distract us from caring for our own personal health? He never will do this. St Augustine said that God can never ask us to do what we cannot, as that would be leading us into sin, something in direct contradiction of God’s nature. He will always be sure that we will be able to accomplish our calling, just like he did with Mary, filling her with grace (cf. v.28). So whenever we find ourselves in a troubling, near impossible situation, we always have a Mother to turn to.