Annunciation - Mary as a model disciple

In Luke’s Gospel Jesus says that those who hear the word of God and keep it are blessed and are included in his family of disciples (see Luke 8:21).This is why many scholars—Catholic and Protestant alike—recognize Mary as the first Christian disciple and a model follower of Jesus.
Mary fits this description better than anyone else in Luke’s Gospel. From the very beginning she accepts God’s word from the angel Gabriel and calls herself the servant of the Lord. In subsequent scenes we will see that Mary responds promptly to her relative Elizabeth’s needs as soon as she learns from Gabriel that Elizabeth is pregnant in her old age.
Furthermore, she is counted among the “blessed” disciples in Luke’s Gospel. Not only will Elizabeth call Mary blessed for believing God’s word (1:45), but Mary herself will say that all generations will call her blessed (1:48). Similarly, like a good disciple who hears God’s word and keeps it, Mary will “keep in her heart” the angel’s joyous message at Jesus’ birth (2:19) and Christ’s words to her when she finds him in the temple (2:51).
Finally, Luke shows us Mary persevering in faithfulness throughout her life, devoting herself to prayer and to the life of the early Christian community in the days following her Son’s resurrection and ascension into heaven (see Acts 1:14).
Throughout her life, therefore, Mary’s acceptance of God’s word is exemplary. As the first person to accept God’s word in the new covenant, her obedience anticipates the response many will make to Christ’s call to follow him in his public ministry and throughout the Christian era.