Favored One
The Angel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary and said "Χαῖρε κεχαριτωμένη!" "Greetings O Favored One" says the ESV in Luke 1:28. The second Greek word [pronounced ke-char-ih-toe-MEH-nee] is a little deeper than that, tho. "O Favored One" seems like the Angel is using a nice descriptive term to politely address the Virgin; a few words to tell her that God thinks she's cool. But the word is a verb in the perfect tense, which denotes completeness. The mood is participle, which allows it to act as an adjective. My amateur armchair Greek translation would be something like "Greetings to you who are highly-favored by and filled with the grace of God because of your receptivity to Him." This is no ordinary woman! Because she was raised in the Temple (like Samuel), because she was humble and spent her life learning the Hebrew Scriptures, because she loved God, she was already filled with grace. This is why the Archangel Gabriel, who stands