25 March 2023

ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD

 

We celebrate today the solemn feast of the Annunciation. “Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” said the old missal. That was correct, in a way, for the angel came to announce glad tidings to Mary. “Annunciation of the Lord,” says the new missal. Yes, this is the day that the Good News is announced that she will become the Mother of Jesus. It is Jesus who is announced. He will be “God-with-us” (1st reading), who comes to do God’s will by being with us and saving us (2nd reading). It’s Jesus’ day, but it’s also Mary’s day. With the same disposition to serve God and people as Jesus had, she says, “I am fully ready to serve. I am the handmaid of the Lord.” May these be our words too.

 

Reading 1: Isaiah 7:10-17

But face the facts, all you oppressors, and then wring your hands.
    Listen, all of you, far and near.
Prepare for the worst and wring your hands.
    Yes, prepare for the worst and wring your hands!
Plan and plot all you want—nothing will come of it.
    All your talk is mere talk, empty words,
Because when all is said and done,
    the last word is Immanuel—God-With-Us.

 

Reading 2: Hebrews 10:4-10

You don’t want sacrifices and offerings year after year;
    you’ve prepared a body for me for a sacrifice.
It’s not fragrance and smoke from the altar
    that whet your appetite.
So I said, “I’m here to do it your way, O God,
    the way it’s described in your Book.”

When he said, “You don’t want sacrifices and offerings,” he was referring to practices according to the old plan. When he added, “I’m here to do it your way,” he set aside the first in order to enact the new plan—God’s way—by which we are made fit for God by the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

Good morning!
You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.

 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

He will be great,
    be called ‘Son of the Highest.’
The Lord God will give him
    the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob’s house forever—
    no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

 Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”

 The angel answered,

The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
    the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
    will be called Holy, Son of God.

 “And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”

And Mary said,

Yes, I see it all now:
    I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
    just as you say.

Then the angel left her.

Prayer

Our faithful God and Father,

you are indeed our “God-with-us.”

Your Son became one of us, human,

born of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary.

He came to serve,

she was the humble handmaid.

Make us deeply aware, Lord,

that salvation began with service.

Make us ready to serve in love,

as Mary did, together with Jesus Christ,

your Son and our Lord for ever.

 

Reflection:

25 March 2023 

Luke 1:26-38

I am the handmaid of the Lord (v. 38a).

We celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. In the Gospel account, one must never forget that the evangelist Luke did not give an eyewitness account of the event. Luke attempts to present Mary as the favoured one of God – or the beloved of God – and how God reveals his plan to his beloved and her willingness to accept the plan of God 

In Nazareth, they called her Mary; in Heaven, she was known as the Beloved of God – that’s how the angel addresses her. Gospel gives her a third name, which the Christian community identified her with: the Servant of the Lord.

In the Gospel, Luke presents Mary calling herself as the Handmaid – the servant of God. This title does not mean— “a humble servant,” but it is a title of supreme honour. The authors of the Old Testament books reserved this title for the great men who were faithful to God (this title was never given to a woman). Samuel, David, the prophets, and the priests in the temple who night and day bless God (Ps 134:1-2) were all called “servants of the Lord”. Whenever the Old Testament mentioned the name of Moses, the sacred author often added the title: “servant of the Lord.” 

It is unlikely that Mary attributed to herself such a high title, although nobody deserved it more than she did. It is more likely that the early Christian community—chose this biblical title to qualify her, and Luke, while writing the Gospel, has put it on her lips.

Then comes her famous response: Let it be done to me as you have said (v. 38b). It does not mean a resigned consent to the message of the angel. Instead, it expresses a joyful desire. On the lips of Mary, it reveals her anxiety to see the plan of the Lord realized in her. 

Where God enters, joy always comes. The story, beginning with the call, ‘rejoice’, ends with the joyful exclamation of the Virgin ‘let it be done’. No one in the likes of David, Nathan, Solomon, or the kings of Israel had understood God’s plan; They all had high ambitions and expected God to fulfil their dreams. Mary does not behave like them; she has not put any of her personal dreams or projects before God. She only asked him to show the role he intends to entrust her clearly. After having understood, she joyfully welcomed his will. 

With the announcement of his coming into the world—he reminds us that he cannot be happy in heaven without us.

 

I am the handmaid of the Lord (v. 38a). – Youtube