Feast of the Annunciation

 A Lenten Renewal:
Reflections on the Mass readings in light of our daily lives
By Mother Marie Julie, SCMC

My Dear Good People,

 

Today, March 25th, we celebrate the moment when the Word of God, the Son of the Father, came to earth in human flesh at the word of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.

 

When the angel spoke to Mary of the plan of God, heaven and earth waited in silent anticipation of Mary’s assent. Without fully understanding what it would mean for her–or for her Good Joseph– she spoke her FiatBe it done unto me according to Your Word (Luke 1:26-38).

 

At that precise moment there began the infinitely tender story of Jesus our Emmanuel walking with us from birth to death and beyond to Resurrection. In Mary’s Yes, the No of Eve was canceled and the promise of the Messiah was fulfilled. This Virgin so young, so humble, already so in love with God, placed her life at the service of His Will. She could never have known the swords that would pierce her Heart, but even if she had, her Let it be would still have leapt up from earth to heaven to bring God down from heaven to earth. In that moment perhaps her soul recalled those words of God spoken to Jeremiah 29:11: I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Her surrender to all that the Angel asked of her brooked no hesitation. In that instant Mary became twice a Mother: Mother to Jesus, and Mother to you. As she embraced the tiny Godhead within her, Mary also embraced the soul of every person who would ever live. When the angel left her, he did not leave her alone but rather, she who had lived in absolute obscurity for the fourteen years of her life now bore the precious weight of heaven and earth within her pure body. Close your eyes for a moment and see that as Mary bore Jesus in her womb, you too were present within her soul in a miraculous way.

 

O, the Mystery of a heart that seeks only God. The beauty of a soul that lives only for God. The humility of one human being who drew unto herself the humility of God Himself, become a little Child.

 

And yet who knew?  All of heaven and only one soul on earth–that is, two souls on earth; that of Mary and that of Jesus. What is this economy of Divine Love, that saves the world in absolute silence and hiddenness? And how shall you respond to this Mystery? By taking unto yourself the Word made Flesh as Mary did, unknowing but loving, understanding nothing but accepting all. And so we pray, you and I:

 

In the deep stillness of your union with Jesus, hide me, O Mary.

Have a blessed Feast of the Annunciation.

 

 

 

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“With Mary, our lives continually proclaim the greatness of the Lord and the joy experienced in rendering service to Him.”

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