The primary message of the Gospel passage centres on the conception of Jesus as the Messiah and as the Son of God and what He will accomplish by way of salvation. He is the one whose name is "God saves".

But the passage also has another important message. It presents Mary as a model disciple in receiving and responding to the Gospel message. She stands as the culmination of the vocation of the people of God to bring forth the Messiah. In herself and in her role Mary personifies all the grace and the favour God bestowed on his people. It is not because of something Mary had done but because of God's choice of her for a special role in His plan of salvation.

During the season of Advent, we are to identify ourselves with Mary. We are to make her story our story. For with her, we are greeted, learn of God's abiding presence with us, become aware of our dignity as His people and are called to bear Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit of the Most High, to the world through our words and deeds. Let us make Mary's response our response all the days or our life.