One could sum up the Bible as an interplay of fear and faith. In general, people are obsessed and overpowered by fears; they fear what they cannot control. God is one of our primary fears because God is totally beyond us. The good news, the gospel, according to Luke, is that God has breached that fear and become one of us in Jesus. God says, in effect,  ¢â‚¬Å“It ¢â‚¬â„¢s okay. You don ¢â‚¬â„¢t have to live in chattering fear of me. ¢â‚¬  God ¢â‚¬â„¢s response to Mary ¢â‚¬â„¢s quaver at the angel ¢â‚¬â„¢s appearance is,  ¢â‚¬Å“Do not be afraid ¢â‚¬  (Luke 1:30).

In Luke ¢â‚¬â„¢s infancy narrative, Mary is presented as prototypical and archetypal, because God comes into her life and announces the Divine Presence within her. Through the same Spirit, God comes into our lives and announces the Divine Presence within us. This annunciation event is a paradigm of every mystical experience. God offers Godself to us even before we invite God into our lives. All we are asked to do is be present and open. When Mary manifests this presence and openness, she accepts God ¢â‚¬â„¢s presence.

Adapted from The Good News According to Luke: Spiritual Reflections,

p. 66