Reading from the Book of Isaiah
And the Lord spoke again to Achaz, saying: Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God either unto the depth of hell, or unto the height above. And Achaz said: I will not ask, and I will not tempt the Lord. And he said: Hear ye therefore, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to be grievous to men, that you are grievous to my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.
Chapter: 7, Verses: 10 to 14
Reading from the Book of Psalm
And if he came in to see me, he spoke vain things: his heart gathered together iniquity to itself. He went out and spoke to the same purpose. All my enemies whispered together against me: they devised evils to me. They determined against me an unjust word: shall he that sleepeth rise again no more? For even the man of peace, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, hath greatly supplanted me. But thou, O Lord, have mercy on me, and raise me up again: and I will requite them.
Chapter: 40, Verses 7 to 11
Reading from the Gospel of Hebrews
For it is impossible that with the blood of oxen and goats sin should be taken away. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith: Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldest not: but a body thou hast fitted to me: Holocausts for sin did not please thee. Then said I: Behold I come: in the head of the book it is written of me: that I should do thy will, O God. In saying before, Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin thou wouldest not, neither are they pleasing to thee, which are offered according to the law. Then said I: Behold, I come to do thy will, O God: he taketh away the first, that he may establish that which followeth. In the which will, we are sanctified by the oblation of the body of Jesus Christ once.
Chapter: 10, Verses: 4 to 10
Reading from the Gospel of Luke
And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: Because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Chapter: 1, Verses 26 to 38
Introduction:
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, one of the most beautiful mysteries of our faith. It is the moment when God, in His infinite love, chose to enter human history in the most humble way, through the “Yes” of a young woman, Mary of Nazareth. This feast marks the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s promise to save humanity—a promise that stretches back to the Garden of Eden.
1. The Message of Hope:
In the first reading, Isaiah delivers a prophetic promise: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” This prophecy, spoken in a time of uncertainty and fear for the people of Israel, is a message of hope. It reminds us that God does not abandon His people. He is Emmanuel—God with us.
This message is especially relevant in our world today, where fear and uncertainty often dominate. The Annunciation reminds us that God’s plans are always for our good, even when we cannot see the full picture.
2. Mary’s Yes:
In the Gospel, we hear the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary. Imagine the scene: a young girl, likely no older than a teenager, suddenly faced with an unimaginable request. Mary’s response, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word,” is a profound act of faith and trust.
Mary teaches us what true discipleship looks like. She did not fully understand what God was asking, nor could she foresee all the challenges ahead. Yet she trusted in God’s plan and gave her unconditional “Yes.”
How often do we hesitate to say “Yes” to God? Whether it is fear of the unknown, feelings of inadequacy, or attachment to our own plans, we can find ourselves holding back. Mary’s example invites us to trust in God’s goodness and to offer our lives to Him with open hearts.
3. The Word Became Flesh:
At the heart of the Annunciation is the mystery of the Incarnation: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). God became one of us to redeem us, bridging the infinite gap between Creator and creation.
This is a profound expression of God’s love for humanity. He did not remain distant or detached but entered into our world, taking on our joys and sorrows, our struggles and triumphs. Through Jesus, we see the face of God and experience His closeness.
4. Our Response:
The Annunciation challenges us to consider our own response to God’s call. Like Mary, we are invited to cooperate with God’s plan, even when it seems daunting. Each of us has a unique role in building His Kingdom—whether in our families, workplaces, communities, or church.
Let us also remember that God does not call us to act alone. Just as the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, we too are strengthened and guided by the Holy Spirit in our journey of faith.
Conclusion:
As we celebrate the Annunciation, let us reflect on Mary’s faith and courage. Her “Yes” changed the course of history and brought salvation into the world. May we, like Mary, have the faith to trust in God’s plan, the courage to say “Yes” to His call, and the humility to allow His will to be done in our lives.
Let us pray that through her intercession, we may grow in faith and trust, becoming faithful servants of the Lord.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee…
Amen.
