Seeking to understand and respond to all that God reveals...
Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (March 25, 2021): IS 7:10-14;8:10; PS 40:7-9,10-11; 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.
Mary commits herself to God’s will for her and, in doing so, opens the door to salvation for all His people.
Today we venerate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The Messiah, so long awaited by the Jewish people, was about to be conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary. In the Old Testament reading we hear, “The Lord Himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us!’” (Isaiah 7:14, 8:10). Like all of her people, Mary was aware that God had promised to send a Savior to fulfill His promise to them. On that day so long ago, no one, including the devout young woman who thought that her whole life was already planned, could know that the time had come for the Son of the Most High to join His people. In her gentle simplicity and fidelity to God, Mary was preparing to join Joseph, a carpenter and her betrothed, for a lifetime together. It was what God also wanted, but not at all in the way Mary expected.
“The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man names Joseph, of the house of David, and the Virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:26-28). We immediately learn that Mary pondered what these words might mean. This is the first of several times we hear that she will consider and contemplate something that has been made known to her. Certainly she is already a deeply spiritual person. She seeks to understand and respond to all that God reveals to her even when she knows only a part of His great plan. Mary commits herself to God’s will for her and, in doing so, opens the door to salvation for all His people. It is through her free decision to cooperate with the Holy Trinity that the world is saved from the misery of sin and the finality of death.
Suggested missionary action: Today, let us offer a World Mission Rosary. We can ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to help more people to accept the gift of faith in Christ. And we can ask her to help us cooperate more fully with God’s plan for the welfare of our souls and the souls of our sisters and brothers everywhere.
Give with heart this Lent. Put resources in the hands of missionaries in the Pope’s missions who are serving the poor and battling COVID-19.