By The Rev. Michael Wallens/St. Stephens Episcopal Church

Our understanding of Gabriel’s message for Mary changes when we hear it in it’s proper historical context. He told Mary that she would have a child who would be called the “Son of God,” he would be the true king of Israel, and his kingdom would never end. But Israel already had a king—the illegitimate ruler Herod. And the world already had a “son of God”—Caesar Augustus claimed that title and divine authority.

Here’s what we often miss—Gabriel’s message to Mary was that a revolution was coming. The legitimate King was on the move, and the world was about to be turned upside down. We often read Gabriel’s words as merely spiritual and religious, but in truth they were deeply political and even subversive. These were very dangerous ideas—so dangerous that they would result in Jesus being executed by the state.

Recognizing the political dimensions to Gabriel’s announcement changes the way we understand Mary’s response. “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Traditionally we celebrate Mary because she willingly accepted the humiliation of being an unwed mother in a culture where that was beyond scandalous. That’s absolutely true, but there’s another facet to her courage. When Mary says, “I am the Lord’s servant,” she’s not just signing up to be an unwed mother—she’s the first recruit in God’s revolution to turn the world upside down.

The Lord chose an insignificant, weak, unknown teenage girl to launch his revolution. And Mary, without hesitation, was ready to do her part. Mary may not have been as gentle and passive a figure as we’ve made her out to be. She was a tough young lady.