A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (1:26-38)
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named 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.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
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.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
REFLECTION: Dear brothers and sisters, today, we find ourselves in the middle, of the Fifth Week of our Lenten journey, our Lenten desert. Just before we enter Holy Week, the holiest week of the entire liturgical year. How has your/my Lenten journey been?
As for me, my penances feel heavy—I should have done better. My heart, perhaps a bit concerned—because the joy of Easter, although a glorious feast, feels like it came too fast. I’m still needing more time to grow, in listening to Him better, and surrendering more to Him. Yet today, the Church liturgically calendar moves us closer, toward the Cross, to celebrate today, one of the most important feasts in the Church calendar: The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
Nine months before Christmas, the Church calendar pauses; to celebrate the moment the Word became flesh, in the womb of the Virgin Mary. It seems weird, that a sudden burst of joy, is brought to our minds and hearts, right in the middle of our purple penance. Why?
The Annunciation reminds us why we pray, why we fast, and why we look forward to Good Friday, reminding us that God does not abandon us, in our dessert; He enters it and takes the Cross for our sins.
In today’s Gospel, Gabriel enters a humble home in Nazareth, not a palace. He greets Mary, not with a command, but with a respectful announcement: “Hail, full of grace!” Mary is “greatly troubled”—she does not understand how this can happen, as she is a virgin. But notice Mary’s faith, in her response; “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” That, it is the most important “Yes” in human history. She accepts the mission, despite the risks, the confusion, and the potential, “what will society say?” Why? Because she believes that nothing will be impossible for God.
What does this mean for us, on this Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Lent?
First, God never abandons us. Even if our Lenten journey was not to our plans, just like Mary, our troubles, our worries, are invitations to grace. Second, God works through the lowly. Mary didn’t feel qualified. We may not feel qualified, of a fruitful Lenten journey. But God does not call the equipped; He equips the called. Third, Surrender is our strength. As we prepare to enter Holy Week, Mary’s Fiat “Let it be done”, reflects Jesus’ Fiat in Gethsemane, “Not my will, but yours”. That “Yes” to God on Ash Wednesday, meant surrendering to Him, even knowing, that our Lenten path would take us, through difficult moments. The promise of the Annunciation is, that we are never alone. The Lord is with us, and through our “Yes,” He will bring new life, out of our desert path.
ACTION FOR THE DAY: As we celebrate this Solemnity, let us bring our tired Lenten hearts to Mary, and ask her for the grace to make her response our own. Let us stop trying to control everything, and instead say, “Lord, I am your servant. Do with my life, my Lenten journey, and my struggles, according to your word.” Amen.
AUDIO REFLECTION:
