“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).
Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord (March 25, 2022): IS 7:10-14,8:10; PS 40:7-8,8-9,10,11; HEB 10:4-10; LK 1:26-38
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
We know about the great virtues of young Mary, from the unimportant town of Nazareth; about her humility, her loyalty to God...
We hear in the Gospel according to St. Luke the magnificent story of the Annunciation. God sent one of His angelic messengers to tell Mary that she was the one woman He had chosen from all people to be the mother of the Messiah. Of course, she was troubled. Being in the presence of an angel must have been stunning enough, but what was he saying to her? How could she be full of grace? What did it mean that the Lord was with her? So Gabriel instantly reassured her. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David His father, and He will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:30-33).
We know about the great virtues of young Mary, from the unimportant town of Nazareth; about her humility, her loyalty to God, and her obedience to His will. But she was also realistic. She knew that that she was betrothed to Joseph and that she was still a virgin. So the angel told that her Son would be the Son of God born by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then he gave Mary a gift, letting her know about her cousin Elizabeth who was bearing a child in her old age. This not only showed God’s might, but also that she had a loved one in who she could confide her own experience. Together the two women would be able to praise and pray to Almighty God as they prepared for the births of their sons. And they could support each other as they fulfilled the roles He had called them to accept in His eternal plan to save His children. Mary acknowledged that she was the servant of the Almighty. In that moment she also became the Mother of God. Her own life and that of all people had changed. Jesus Christ Incarnate, truly divine and human, now existed in her womb, in the world. As the New Eve, Mary’s consent to God’s will would allow her Son to sacrifice Himself and throw open the gates of heaven.
