Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Every one of us can understand what it means to love another human being. We think of our parents, our children, our spouses, our friends. We have all experienced the joys as well as the sacrifices of loving another person. Several of my friends are taking care of elderly parents right now and the physical and emotional toll is overwhelming. As a parent, I know when my child is suffering or helpless or in trouble, I do everything in my power to help them no matter what the personal sacrifice. It seems when you love another person that intensely you do not consider the cost, you do not consider it a choice—you just pull out all the stops! At times this can seem irrational and mysterious and even downright foolish. But deep down inside we know exactly what it is—it is the real “stuff”, the real demonstration of loving another. This is authentic love.
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation. The Gospel reading from the first chapter of Luke is one of the most familiar and well loved passages of the New Testament. Paradoxically, it is exactly this familiarity that may prevent us from really reflecting on the incomprehensible mysteries and implications of this event. The exchange between Mary and the angel Gabriel is the turning point in the history of salvation. It is God “pulling out all the stops”. It sounds like love
The reading from Isaiah relates the prophecy of the virgin birth of a child named Emmanuel (Is 7: 14). This is said to be a sign from the Lord—a sign “deep, deep as the nether world or high as the sky!” (Isaiah 7:11). This echoes the promise God made to King David in 2 Samuel chapter 7 that he would raise up the Messiah from David’s own house to bring salvation to the people of Israel. This sounds altogether irrational and mysterious—even foolish. It sounds like love.
The reading from the Book of Hebrews takes us more deeply into this mystery which God had planned from eternity. It says “…a body you have prepared for me” (Heb 10:5) and “Behold, I come to do your will, O God” (Heb 10:9). The commentary in the New American Bible states that these words from verse 9 (from Psalm 40:7-9a) are “placed in the mouth of the Son at his incarnation.” No sin offering or sacrifice or holocaust we offered could secure our salvation. And from all eternity, God planned to provide the perfect sacrifice to accomplish this. In the most costly, irrational---even foolish manner, God pulled out all the stops for us. This was Love.
God never tires of loving us. God does not take short cuts or make substitutions. And he never stops to consider what it will cost him or if it is worth the sacrifice. He just loves. Jesus became human in the world for us and he loved no matter the cost. In the coming days we will see Jesus heading for Jerusalem fully aware that he will pay the ultimate price for loving us. Today, let us spend a few minutes reflecting on how closely our way of loving God resembles God’s way of loving us. Do I take short cuts or make substitutions in demonstrating my love for God? In what way can I show God that I love him so deeply that I am willing to “pull all the stops”?
My Loving Holy God,
You love for me is so mysterious.
Your love for me appears irrational.
And to my limited reason, your love for me seems even foolish.
Put within me the willingness to love as you love.
Grant me the grace to love without counting the cost.
I beg this with the intercession of our Blessed Mother,
Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
- Gail Lyman