THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD (SOLEMNITY)

Hail, full of grace! 

With these words, the angel Gabriel greets Mary. Interestingly, the Greek word that we translate as “hail” could just as easily be translated as “Rejoice!” Can’t you imagine Gabriel telling Mary, “Rejoice! You’re going to love my message”? After all, he is delivering the ultimate in good news: God is coming to earth as a man—as an infant, no less—and Mary is going to be his mother! Accepting that “nothing will be impossible for God,” not even the miracle of a virgin conceiving a child, Mary embraces God’s will for her without hesitation (Luke 1:37). And because she did, the whole world now has reason to rejoice.

Rejoice! This is God’s message to you every day. Like Mary, you have received God’s grace. Take a look at your day so far—or yesterday—and think about the different ways in which God has poured out his grace on you. Now rejoice in the ways you have responded to that grace. Rejoice also that God has given you a part to play in sharing that grace with the people around you.

Rejoice! Like Mary, you can choose to do God’s will. You may hesitate from time to time. You may fear that following his will might keep you from feeling joyful, and so you may turn away from what he is asking of you. But even if that does happen, you can still rejoice in his mercy. You can rejoice that you can become like Mary, trusting that God is good and that he wants nothing but good for you and your loved ones. You can rejoice too in knowing that as you cling to him in troubling times, he will set your feet on firm and solid ground.

Rejoice! God continues to reveal himself! He continues to speak to you through Scripture, the Church, and the Holy Spirit’s promptings in your heart. Rejoice that God is in your midst, just as Jesus was with Mary. Rejoice that through his word and his promptings, God is always seeking to guide you and reveal his love to you. Rejoice that Christ is with you to keep you from getting lost. Rejoice that Jesus has given you all you will ever need to remain steadfast.

“Holy Mary, pray for us so that we can rejoice with you today!”

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10
Psalm 40:7-11
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38