Readings: Is 7: 10-14, 8: 10; Ps 40: Hebrews 10: 4-10; Luke 1: 26-38
Today’s readings point to the importance of the feast we celebrate today, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the conception of the Lord Jesus in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Jesus is truly “God with us” in a way that no one could ever have imagined: many do not comprehend or appreciate this feast day. God wants people to accept the gifts God has for them and respond by seeking to do the will of God. Mary was willing to do so. She said “yes” to God’s will, even though she did not know what it would entail. Jesus also said “yes” to the will of His Father.
And thus, Jesus, the Son of God, was conceived as a human in the womb of Mary, by the overpowering of the Holy Spirit. The Letter to Hebrews expands the psalm and applies it to Jesus. Jesus came not to perform sacrifices and rituals. Jesus came to do the will of His Fathers– to announce the Good News of God’s love and his desire to have a more personal relationship with each and every person. This was only done by the Son of God’s offering of His human body in perfect obedience to the will of His Father.
The Gospel today is the account of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary and asking her if she would consent to be the mother of the Messiah, the mother of the Savior. Mary does not understand how that could be possible since she has “not known man.” She is not doubting God’s request, she is wondering how it would be possible. After being informed it will be by the power of the Holy Spirit, she says her fiat, “Let it be.” This is her complete submission to the will of God.
It is important we celebrate the conception and incarnation of Jesus as a human in the womb of Mary, but more important than Jesus’ human beginning is His suffering, death, and resurrection. Yes, it is true without conception and incarnation there could be no suffering, death, and resurrection. Yet, Jesus’ becoming human was only the beginning of what His full mission and ministry were to be. His obedience in becoming human was to lead to His obedience in giving His life for others. So often Christians put greater emphasis on Jesus’ birth and celebration of Christmas than they do on the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Church reminds us that the reason Jesus became human was to give His life for our salvation by His death on the cross and also to restore life to us through His resurrection.
Obedience to God is not always tied into a full understanding of what lies ahead. It is trusting that God will provide the strength-fortitude and knowledge and wisdom on an “as needed” basis, as the plan unfolds. Obedience is hearing what GOD says and being willing to trust that God will see us through it all (providence). Obedience is part of the response of a disciple – a disciplined learner of the Master-Teacher.
We must see ourselves as true servants of His will, and we must fully embrace whatsoever God asks of us, completely uniting our wills to His.