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 before God and is a commander of the Heavenly Hosts, was sent to HER with this greeting. IT was not a random thing. God didn't spin the "Wheel of Virgins" or roll some dice.
So Gabriel goes on: "The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women." [...] "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God."
The Lord is with you, you have found favor with God! James is right: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
The Virgin conceives the Inconceivable.
Her womb contains the Uncontainable.
Her breast feeds Him who feeds all creation.
Her lap is the throne of the Most High God.
Her humility, nearness to God, grace-full-nessresult in her "Yes." Be it unto me according to your word. This response in cooperation with God brings about the incarnation. In her, highly favored, full of grace, blessed among women, the Lord God was pleased to dwell and to take flesh and blood from her, for the salvation of mankind. He takes our nature upon Himself, complete and identical in all ways to our nature, sanctifies it, and raises it to heaven to sit on the Throne of God, at the right hand of the Father.
Rejoice! O Virgin Theotokos! Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, for you have born the Savior of our souls!
More honorable than the Cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim! Thou who without corruption barest God the Word and are truly Theotokos, we magnify thee!

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