Reflection: The Annunciation of the Lord

Today we celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her that she had been chosen by God to be the Mother of the Son of God, the Mother of the Savior of the world.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."  Luke 1:30-33

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.  Luke 1:36-37

The angel Gabriel gave Mary two personal messages to encourage and strengthen her.

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." Luke 1:30

"For nothing will be impossible for God." Luke 1:37

This was a blessing to Mary that would strengthen her for the rest of her life, especially during times of great trial. Then the angel Gabriel revealed to Mary the pregnancy of Elizabeth. Both woman would bear a child through Divine Intervention. These two moments represent two of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, the Annunciation and the Visitation.

Mary responded with her FIAT, her Yes to God:

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Luke 1:38

How can you give your fiat, your yes, to God the way Mary did?
  
Ask Mary to come to you and help you to trust God the way she did. During the Mass, at the moment of the Consecration, ask Mary to give you a heart like hers. Remember that the Angel Gabriel told Mary to be unafraid. Bring your fears to God and say yes to Him, knowing that all things are possible for Him. Every time you pray the Hail Mary, you call upon her to come to your assistance. This is a powerful prayer through which you greet Mary the way the Angel Gabriel greeted her. Then you call upon her prayers and her assistance, "now and at the hour of our death."

God loves you so much and He wants to overwhelm you with His love. Enter into His Presence and allow Him to touch you with His healing grace. God created you and He wants you to live with Him eternally. God places the highest value on human life. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to become one of us, took on our human nature and became an innocent, completely dependent infant.

When we repeat the words of the angel by praying the Hail Mary, the Word of God dwells among us. Through Mary's humble, obedient Fiat, heaven and earth meet.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee...