Mary the Mother of our FaithMary the Mother of our Faith

The Mother of our faith didn’t have it easy…

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

‘TRUSTING DOUBT’ AND

‘SKEPTICAL DOUBT’

“I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.“ (Lk 1:19-20)

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” (Lk 1:19-20)

#1 Faith comes first,then assurance

“Be it unto me, according to your Word.”

Luke 1:45

Zechy’s Judgment = Forced Silence

ONE WAY TO ‘RECOGNISE’

FAITH & TRUST

#2 Faith ‘takes hold’ of our body, mind and soul!

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord

has said to her will be

accomplished!”

Luke 1:45

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the

Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

Luke 1:45

Marriage tension, shame, ostracization /

gossip, being on the run,

infanticide, infant-anxiety…

#3 Faith stands strong through

suffering

MaryMary ZechyZechy

Demands certainty and gives reasons why NOT

(“How can I be sure of this? Me and my wife are old”)

Praises God upon HEARING of blessing

and THROUGH trials

Praises GodAFTER receiving blessing

Trust

Wants to know how, given the obstacles

(“How can this be, since I am a virgin?”)

Skepticism

Begets assurance, leading to greater

faith(“I am your servant…

be it unto me”)

Brings judgment, leading to further un-belief

(silence = non-praise)