25 March, 2023 | Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Gospel : Lk 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.

Reflections

Mary said her ‘yes’ to the call of God. It is the grace of God that enabled her to say that ‘yes’. She was a woman full of grace. The grace of God is the love of God shown to those who acknowledge their being undeserved. The grace of God is God reaching to people. It is an unconditional love toward a person who does not deserve it. In our day to day life whenever we are faced with trails and problems that cause us much mental struggle we tend to look inward and become desperate. Mary certainly would have done so likewise. But the grace of God allowed her to rise above the situations of doubt and fear and walk stronger in her faith with God.

Activity: 

Reflect on the joyful mysteries of the rosary and pray for the grace that you need to face unfavorable situations in life with courage and faith.