RBWords

     Two of the four gospels contain stories of the conception and birth of Jesus: Matthew and Luke.  Scripture scholars call these "the infancy narratives" and point out that these narratives are "mini-gospels" in that they were likely written later and in the light of what would follow years later in the rest of the gospel account.  There is an emphasis, particularly in the Gospel According to Matthew, on how everything in the story is a fulfillment of God's promises given by the prophets in the Old Testament.  The annunciation stories differ in that in Luke the angel appears to Mary, and in Matthew, the angel appears to Joseph.  The connection with descendance from King David is mentioned in both.  What is most important is that the incarnation of Jesus is both the work of the Holy Spirit and the cooperation of Mary and Joseph in this work.  If nothing else, the very date of this feast is fixed exactly nine months before the date chosen to celebrate the birth of Jesus, December 25th.  Those who want to go deeply into the story of Jesus; conception and birth may read the wonderful and exhaustive study by Fr. Raymond Brown, S.S." THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH.

     In the feast of the Annunciation, we are presented with the big picture of God's plan of salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit works through human cooperation to bring this about.  The celebration of this feast in the midst of the season of Lent and with the death and resurrection of Jesus soon to be celebrated reminds us that our work is to proclaim Jesus' entire life and to continue the human cooperation with the work of the Holy Spirit in realizing God's plan of salvation.  AMEN