A chill went through my body as my heart raced. This was much more of a gift than Zechariah and Elizabeth received. But how was it that I didn’t doubt the words of the angel? I am a woman, not a teacher of the Torah. I did not have Zechariah's insight on the will of God, and yet I did not budge nor did I doubt the words of the angel, even though most of it made little sense to me.

Then how is this to be?

Gabriel put his hands outward and then looked upward. I could see that he was totally focused on something from beyond and had a trust in his eyes that I knew the Lord would soon ask of me.

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. And behold: Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren…

Gabriel then lowered his head and looked directly at me.

…for nothing is impossible with God.

That was beyond my wildest expectations. While I still didn’t quite understand what all of this meant, I knew that the presence surrounding me would become clearer in the words of my Child once He was born. After all, if the same Spirit that conceived Him resides in Him, then who better to teach me of this divine truth? Therefore, I knew the angel’s words to be true.

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done according to your word.

The angel came to me and took my face in his hands. He smiled as he glared into my eyes.

Daughter, my Lord has longed for this moment. In you, He is well pleased.

I bowed and closed my eyes. Immediately something came over me that changed me forever. I was no longer the young woman that I was just moments earlier. I could feel now more than ever that my life was not my own and that I would truly have to live for my Son both as His mother and His disciple. And while this feeling gave me great joy, I also felt very afraid, as I knew that my decision would carry many consequences.

I was afraid, but I could also feel a love that I had never known before, and it was the most wonderful feeling.

I stood up and then looked down at my womb. It was almost as if I was back in my room in Nazareth. I remember touching my womb and saying my first words to my Son, but this time, I waited until I looked upward so I could speak to Him as He lives now.

My Son, I believe in you.