Today the Church celebrates the great feast of the Annunciation of the Lord.
This feast recalls the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, marking His Incarnation.
This feast recalls the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, marking His Incarnation.
This is certainly a great celebration as we rejoice in that moment when the promise of salvation was fulfilled.
Yet, the mystery of that moment is also present in this moment, in the here and now, as we reflect on the angel Gabriel's announcement and Mary's response.
And we also cannot downplay or diminish the fact that the news of salvation is always encountered by apprehension.
In the 1st reading, king Ahaz was told to ask the Lord for a sign, but he refused. That was because he rather put his trust in earthly powers than on heavenly mysteries.
In the gospel, the angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary "Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you" caused her to be deeply disturbed and she wondered what the greeting could mean.
So it seems that the news of salvation does not seem like good news initially. But maybe that is necessary because we must be awakened and jolted by the news that God is going to save His people.
Nonetheless, just as Mary was given the grace to accept the good news of salvation, so are we given that grace.
And just as Mary was told not to be afraid, we are also told to have confidence in God's saving plan for us.
And if we think that God is asking the impossible from us, then let us also remember that nothing is impossible for God. We just have to let God's will be done unto us.
Yet, the mystery of that moment is also present in this moment, in the here and now, as we reflect on the angel Gabriel's announcement and Mary's response.
And we also cannot downplay or diminish the fact that the news of salvation is always encountered by apprehension.
In the 1st reading, king Ahaz was told to ask the Lord for a sign, but he refused. That was because he rather put his trust in earthly powers than on heavenly mysteries.
In the gospel, the angel Gabriel's greeting to Mary "Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you" caused her to be deeply disturbed and she wondered what the greeting could mean.
So it seems that the news of salvation does not seem like good news initially. But maybe that is necessary because we must be awakened and jolted by the news that God is going to save His people.
Nonetheless, just as Mary was given the grace to accept the good news of salvation, so are we given that grace.
And just as Mary was told not to be afraid, we are also told to have confidence in God's saving plan for us.
And if we think that God is asking the impossible from us, then let us also remember that nothing is impossible for God. We just have to let God's will be done unto us.