October 17

Hail, thou that art highly favored: ...Blessed art thou among women. — Luke 1:28

Motherhood is always sacred. To be the mother of any child is a holy privilege for a woman. But to be the mother of Jesus Christ, the world’s Messiah, was the highest honor ever granted to any woman.

Mary was blessed among women. When a great man is wanted for some place of responsibility, God first chooses a noble woman to be his mother, and puts into her heart and life the gifts that are necessary to fit her for her sacred task. We often hear it said of a good or great man that he had a good mother.

The woman who was chosen from among all women to be the mother of Jesus must have been divinely gifted for her mission. No wonder the angel said to her, “Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.”

Mary’s words when she told that she was to be the mother of the Messiah are very beautiful: “Behold the hand–maid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” She was awed by the announcement, and accepted it humbly.