There are moments when our life changes. It will never be the same again. We have to wonder how it felt for Mary when the angel Gabriel delivered that life-changing message – that she will bear the Son of God. The carol ‘Gabriel’s Message, drawn from Luke 1:26-38 and steeped in tradition, invites us to reflect on the mystery of God’s plan unfolding in human history – which would never again be the same.
The carol begins with Gabriel’s proclamation:
“The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame.”
Biblical accounts often refer to the awe and fear often associated with divine encounters – and, indeed, we can perhaps understand how overwhelming it might be to come face to face with an angel. Yet Gabriel’s words begin not with fear, but with reassurance: “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” In Advent, we are reminded that God’s first movement toward us is one of grace and mercy. Despite our failings, God chooses to live with us, as He did with Mary.
The heart of the carol rests in Mary’s response:
“Most highly favored lady,” Gloria!
Mary’s “yes” to God—is an act of complete trust and surrender. It is not passive resignation but an active cooperation with God’s will. How about us? Here we are invited to take on Mary’s openness, asking ourselves: How willing are we to say “yes” to God’s call, even when it disrupts our plans or seems beyond our understanding? How might it feel for us to say “yes” to God?
“Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
‘To me be as it pleaseth God,’ she said.”
Through Mary, the infinite God becomes finite, the Word is made flesh. The carol reminds us that the Incarnation is not only an event in history but an ongoing reality. Christ desires to be born anew in our hearts and in the world today.
“Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born
In Bethlehem all on a Christmas morn.”
Mary’s response to God’s plan is not only one of obedience but also of joy. Her song in Luke’s Gospel celebrates a God who lifts up the lowly and fulfills His promises. In a season often marked by busyness or even weariness, this carol calls us to reclaim the joy of God’s faithfulness and the hope of His kingdom breaking into our lives.
Gabriel’s Message is more than a retelling of Mary’s encounter with the angel; it is an invitation for us to respond to God’s call with faith and humility. As we sing this carol, remember that we, too, are called to carry Christ into the world. Like Mary, we are invited to have the courage to say, “Be it unto me according to thy word,” trusting that God’s plans, though mysterious, are always good.
In the stillness of our waiting, may we hear God’s message to us and respond with the same openness and joy as the most highly favoured lady.
