Let us rejoice in the Good News of the Annunciation
Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (March 25, 2020): IS 7:10-14;8:10; PS 40:7-8,8-9,10,11; HEB 10:4-10; LK 1:26-38
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days
On that day when Mary offered her will to God, she could not have known all that would happen to her or her Son.
As we celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord, the Gospel introduces Gabriel, the angelic messenger of Almighty God, who tells a young Jewish woman of Nazareth that He had chosen her to be the mother of His Son. We hear that the Virgin Mary was troubled and wondered what he meant by the words that we still say every time we utter the “Hail Mary” – full of grace, the Lord is with you. The angel explained that she would conceive a Son whom she would call Jesus and that His Kingdom would have no end. Even in her perplexity, Mary had the courage and intelligence to ask a question: How? Gabriel answered her. And the Blessed Virgin answered God. She held nothing back. He asked and she obeyed. God loved and trusted her and she loved and trusted Him. There was no more to be said.
In St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews we are reminded of the importance of sacrifice to the Jews and to many nations. But the death of animals or any other sacrifice in the temple or anywhere else could never take away the sins of God’s people. “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me; in holocausts and sin offerings You took no delight. Then I said, ‘As is written of Me in the scroll, behold, I come to do Your will, O God’” (Hebrews 10:5-7). Jesus, did indeed sacrifice His life for us out of obedience to His Father. God always wanted us to be reconciled to Himself and Christ achieved this by joining His will to His suffering for the sake of His people. On that day when Mary offered her will to God, she could not have known all that would happen to her or her Son. Yet, it would not have mattered. Mary, like Jesus, would always agree to the plan of the Almighty. It is the same decision each of us must answer in our own way. It is always a risk, but if it is what God wants, it will always be right.
Suggested missionary action: On this Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, let us ask His mother to help us emulate her trust in God and her commitment to do all He asks of us.
