November 20, 2022
March 25, 2021
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
As I read this Gospel today, I was trying to find a theme that I could speak about. For some reason, the Gospel of Mark Chapter 10:13-16 jumped into my mind.
This is where the children are coming to Jesus. They trust Jesus, even though they might not know him.
Imagine, a trust that is so perfect, so pure.
The Apostles rebuke them and try to shoo them away.
But Jesus becomes angry with the Apostles. Remember, he tells them not to send them away because only those who trust like a child can enter Heaven.
Imagine if we had that kind of trust.
I tried to think of any other example to give along with that of a child but couldn’t, except, today’s Gospel. Mary at the Annunciation. Here was this young woman, 13-15 years old, and an angel – not just any angel but Gabriel – God’s own Messenger, comes to her and says she’s going to become pregnant.
Imagine, ladies, when you were 13-15 how you would have accepted this message.
But Mary asks one question. “How can this be? I have not known a man.”
She then says yes. Even though in those times she could have been stoned for becoming pregnant without marriage. Imagine, that kind of trust in your life.Imagine gentlemen, a young woman with so much trust in you that she would be willing to take you sight unseen? How wonderful would that be?
Imagine a marriage where your trust in each other is almost supernatural. Imagine what it must be like to place all your trust in each other and live your life with no misgivings.
My gosh, I want that.
Those children trusted Jesus.
Mary trusted God.
I ask you now, do you trust?
What I Heard Him Say 