Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Solemnity of the Annunciation

Readings for Today

Then the angel said to 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

Happy Solemnity! We celebrate today one of the most glorious feast days of the year. Today is nine months before Christmas and is the day we celebrate the fact that God the Son took on our human nature in the womb of the Blessed Virgin. It’s the celebration of the Incarnation of our Lord.

There are many things to celebrate today and many things for which we should be eternally grateful. First and foremost we celebrate the profound fact that God loves us so much that He became one of us. The fact that God took on our human nature is worthy of unlimited rejoicing and celebration! If we only understood what this meant. If we could only understand the effects of this incredible event in history. The fact that God became a human being in the womb of the Blessed Virgin is a gift beyond our comprehension. It’s a gift that elevates humanity to the realm of the divine. God and man are united in this glorious event and we should be forever grateful.

We also see in this event the glorious act of perfect submission to the will of God. We see this in the Blessed Mother herself. It’s interesting to note that our Blessed Mother was told that “you will conceive in your womb and bear a son…” She wasn’t asked by the angel if she was willing, rather, she was told what was to happen. Why is that the case?

It happened this way because the Blessed Virgin said yes to God throughout her life. Never was there a moment that she said no to God. Therefore, her perpetual yes to God enabled the angel Gabriel to tell her that she “will conceive.” In other words, the angel was able to tell her what she had already said yes to in her life.

What a glorious example this is. Our Blessed Mother’s “Yes” is an incredible witness to us. We are called to daily say yes to God. And we are called to say yes to Him even before we know what He asks of us. This solemnity affords us the opportunity to once again say “Yes” to the will of God. No matter what He is asking of you, the right answer is “Yes.”

Reflect, today, upon your own invitation from God to say “Yes” to Him in all things. You, like our Blessed Mother, are invited to bring our Lord into the world. Not in the literal way she did, but you are called to be an instrument of His continual Incarnation in our world. Reflect upon how fully you answer this call and get on your knees today and say “Yes” to the plan our Lord has for your life.

Lord, the answer is “Yes!” Yes, I choose your divine will. Yes, You may do with me whatever You will. May my “Yes” be as pure and holy as our Blessed Mother’s. Let it be done to me according to Your will. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Image: The Annunciation, Carl Heinrich Bloch