TODAY Christians remember the Annunciation, when God's messenger announced that Mary would bear God's son, and name him Jesus, and she said ‘Yes’. (Luke 1. 26-38).

Here is a point of view of the angel, written by OTN Patron Rachel Mann, in her 2015 book A Star-Filled Grace.

She was so young.

Too young.
But it's not my job to have opinions. It's my job to deliver news.
I thought she would run when I walked into her home. It would have been the reasonable thing to do.

I've got used to odd reactions to my presence. But she was cool. So composed that at first I thought she was stupid. She looked at me without blinking.

But I saw it was her courage. Men four times her age rarely have her self-possession. She was nobody's fool.

I also saw the knife. The whole time she spoke to me - in even, carefully controlled tones - she held a knife in her hand.

It was just a knife from her kitchen duties, but it was capable of real damage.

She gripped it tight, ready to strike. I don't think she'd have hesitated to use it.

I asked her my question - 'Will you say yes?' Told her she was chosen and blessed.

She didn't seem very impressed. She kept me standing there as she sat down.

She laid the knife out on the table and studied it. She sighed like a woman twice her age.
Who already knew what it would cost.

Something within me hoped she would say 'no'.
I felt a tear fall down my cheek.
She looked at the knife for a long time. Then she said, 'yes.'