Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
We have all experienced what it means to love another person. We think of our parents, our children, our spouses, our friends. We've experienced the joys as well as the sorrows and sacrifices of loving others. When a loved one is suffering, helpless or in trouble, we do everything in our power to help them, no matter what the personal sacrifice. We do not consider the cost, nor do we consider it a choice. This can seem irrational and mysterious—even downright foolish. But deep inside we know exactly what we're doing—this is the real “stuff”.
This sounds like love.
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation. Luke's Gospel reading is one of the most familiar passages of the New Testament. However, it is just this familiarity that may tempt us away from deeply reflecting on the deep mystery and cosmic implications of Mary's encounter. The exchange between Mary and the angel Gabriel is the turning point in the history of salvation—it describes a young woman's personal choice that has cosmic ramifications. Mary says 'yes' to God regardless of the fear and anxiety and affliction she probably felt. This 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). It echoes the promise God made to King David in 2 Samuel 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. This sounds like love.
And the passage from the 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 a most costly, irrational---even foolish manner, God pulls out all the stops for us. This sounds like love.
God never tires of loving us. God does not take short cuts or make substitutions. And God never stops to consider what it will cost or if it is worth the sacrifice. God just loves. Jesus became human in the world for us and he loved no matter the cost. This day, may we spend time in prayer reflecting on how closely our way of loving God resembles God’s way of loving us. Do we take short cuts or make substitutions in demonstrating our love for God? In what way can we show God that we love God so deeply that it seems foolish—even reckless on this day? Can we surrender ourselves as Mary did? Whatever we are faced with on this day, may we say 'yes'. May we think of Mary and just do as she would do. This sounds like love.
Holy Loving God,
Your love for us is so mysterious.
Your love for us seems irrational.
And with our limited , your love for us even seems foolish.
Place within us the willingness to love as you love us
Grant us the grace to love without counting the cost,
with the intercession of our Blessed Mother,
through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
--Gail Lyman