Word to the Wise
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - March 25 - The Annunciation of the Lord
[Isa 7:10-14; 8:10; Heb 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38]"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold you will conceive 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...." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." [Luke]
The Church celebrates two annunciations in Lent. The first annunciation to be celebrated is to Joseph, as recounted in the Gospel According to Matthew 1:18-25, on March 19. But it is second in time historically because Mary knew she was pregnant long before Joseph learned about it, which is probably the case in most marriages!! What is clear in both scriptural accounts is that the conception of Jesus is the work of the Holy Spirit and the parties need not be afraid! That last assurance may have been difficult to realize! How does one stay calm and self-assured when told what that baby is going to do? Parenthood is a big challenge no matter what, but when the baby is the savior of the world, the promised Messiah?
The scene of Mary and the angel Gabriel is beloved by artists and depicted in many ways. The one I see most often is that of Fra Angelico, the great 15th century Dominican artist. His rendering doesn't resemble very much an ordinary 1st century Palestinian home, to be sure, but it does capture the majesty of the event! It is a celebration of faith that accepts a destiny in God's plan of salvation. As the Canticle of Mary (the "Magnificat") proclaims, "The Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name!" AMEN!