Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. Indeed it is a great feast for all Christians as God taking human flesh to fulfill, all that God had promised in the redemption of humankind, prophesied in books of the Old Testaments especially in Genesis 3:15– “And I will put enmity between you and the woman; and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel” and in Isaiah 7:14– “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” The evangelist Luke tells us that in the sixth month after the conception of St. John the Baptist by Elizabeth, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to announce the birth of Jesus to a virgin at Nazareth, a town in Galilee. And the virgin’s name was Mary. Therefore, we will be celebrating the birth of Jesus on Christmas day exactly after nine months of today’s feast. This feast also invites all pregnant women and mothers to take part in today’s Holy Eucharist and offer petitions for their unborn and new born children in their families.
The Annunciation is the beginning of God’s human nature. In other words, God dwelt inside of Mary’s body in human form with her consent. Mary was firstly greeted by the angel, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” This wondrous salutation and appearance troubled Mary. The angel then assured her that she had found favor with God, and would become the mother of a son whose name she should call Jesus, the Son of the Highest, one in a nature and perfection with the Lord God. Though Mary might had not fully grasped the meaning of the heavenly message yet accepted trusting on God’s favor by saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, and be it done to me according to your word.” Mary asked no sign for confirming but replied with the language of faith and humble admiration. Thereafter, the power of the Holy Spirit entered the chaste womb of the Virgin forming the humanity of Jesus, the promised Messiah. Mary was “Favored” because she willingly accepted God’s task. Certainly bearing, nursing and raising a child is an incredible favor given to all mothers of the world.
The Annunciation is the beginning of God’s salvific plan for humankind. In other words, God entered into history as human for the salvation of all. The angel declared to Mary, “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” This was an echo of sublime prediction of the Messianic kingdom mentioned in the Old Testament. Jesus’ mission was to dwell among his people as human, to inscribe the word of God over their hearts, and to bring God’s kingdom among people through unconditional love. Mary was unique in human history because of the fruit of her womb Jesus. Jesus’ way of life, his behavior and attitudes towards people, his mission of life, and his public ministry brought greatness to his mother, Mary. Similarly, sons and daughters of the family bring good names to their parents through their way of life, attitudes, behaviors and achievements. Mary was “Blessed” because she fully believed in God’s message. Certainly hearing the word of God, believing and teaching a child God’s way of life is a true blessedness granted to all mothers of the world.
