and exile. Mary, a young poor girl from a small village, will be the mother of the messiah? It is almost certain no one will believe her. If she is not stoned to death, she could be cast out of her community, divorced by Joseph, and scorned by all who knew her. Apart from her people, she would hardly be considered a person. Mary’s response to Gabriel is one of the most poignant vignettes in all of Scripture, showing a life bent toward faith and obedience to God. With humility and little fanfare,