The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, challenge our tendency to choose our plans over the Will of God for our life.
In the reading from the Prophet Isaiah, he gives Ahaz the Sign of Immanuel.
* [7:14] Isaiah’s sign seeks to reassure Ahaz that he need not fear the invading armies of Syria and Israel in the light of God’s promise to David (2 Sm 7:12–16). The oracle follows a traditional announcement formula by which the birth and sometimes naming of a child is promised to particular individuals (Gn 16:11; Jgs 13:3). The young woman: Hebrew ‘almah designates a young woman of marriageable age without specific reference to virginity. The Septuagint translated the Hebrew term as parthenos, which normally does mean virgin, and this translation underlies Mt 1:23. Emmanuel: the name means “with us is God.” Since for the Christian the incarnation is the ultimate expression of God’s willingness to “be with us,” it is understandable that this text was interpreted to refer to the birth of Christ. (Isaiah, CHAPTER 7, n.d.)
Psalm 40 is a thanksgiving for deliverance and a prayer for help.
* [Psalm 40] A thanksgiving (Ps 40:2–13) has been combined with a lament (Ps 40:14–17) that appears also in Ps 70. The psalmist describes the rescue in spatial terms—being raised up from the swampy underworld to firm earth where one can praise God (Ps 40:2–4). All who trust God will experience like protection (Ps 40:5–6)! The Psalm stipulates the precise mode of thanksgiving: not animal sacrifice but open and enthusiastic proclamation of the salvation just experienced (Ps 40:7–11). A prayer for protection concludes (Ps 40:12–17). (Psalms, PSALM 40, n.d.)
The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims one Sacrifice instead of many.
* [10:1–10] Christian faith now realizes that the Old Testament sacrifices did not effect the spiritual benefits to come but only prefigured them (Heb 10:1). For if the sacrifices had actually effected the forgiveness of sin, there would have been no reason for their constant repetition (Heb 10:2). They were rather a continual reminder of the people’s sins (Heb 10:3). It is not reasonable to suppose that human sins could be removed by the blood of animal sacrifices (Heb 10:4). Christ, therefore, is here shown to understand his mission in terms of Ps 40:5–7, cited according to the Septuagint (Heb 10:5–7). Jesus acknowledged that the Old Testament sacrifices did not remit the sins of the people and so, perceiving the will of God, offered his own body for this purpose (Heb 10:8–10). (Hebrews, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, the Birth of Jesus is foretold.
* [1:34] Mary’s questioning response is a denial of sexual relations and is used by Luke to lead to the angel’s declaration about the Spirit’s role in the conception of this child (Lk 1:35). According to Luke, the virginal conception of Jesus takes place through the holy Spirit, the power of God, and therefore Jesus has a unique relationship to Yahweh: he is Son of God.
* [1:36–37] The sign given to Mary in confirmation of the angel’s announcement to her is the pregnancy of her aged relative Elizabeth. If a woman past the childbearing age could become pregnant, why, the angel implies, should there be doubt about Mary’s pregnancy, for nothing will be impossible for God. (Luke, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
Molly Mattingly observes that exactly nine months before Christmas, our contemplation of the beginning of Jesus’ life overlaps with our contemplation of his death. It’s as if we behold the entire Paschal Mystery in a small prism or seed today: “heaven and earth in little space,” as the anonymous medieval poet wrote in “Rosa Mystica.” It is no mistake that Catholic author J.R.R. Tolkien assigned the date March 25 as the day the One Ring was destroyed and the start of a new age in The Lord of the Rings: the Annunciation, in its smallness, marks the beginning of downfall for dark forces.
There are thousands of artistic renditions of this moment in salvation history. I’ll share three of my favorites. “Annunciation” by Henry Ossawa Tanner captures the smallness of the moment: Mary in her small house, with disheveled rugs and blankets; the light of an angel that does not overcome the space but retains an other-worldly glow; the open attentiveness on Mary’s face and the way she turns toward the angel combined with the confusion, fear, or hesitation in the rest of her posture. Perhaps this depicts the moment between Gabriel’s words, “for nothing will be impossible for God,” and Mary’s response. When I have prayed imaginatively with Mary, there is a deep strength in her posture when she decides freely that yes, she will carry Christ into the world. (Mattingly, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Do you wish to be great?,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Just imagine the incredible kindness and mercy! He was the only Son, but He did not want to remain alone. So that humans might be born of God God was born of humans. Begotten of God is He through Whom we were created - Born of a woman is He through Whom we are to be re-created. The Word first wished to be born of humans, so that you might be assured of being born of God" (excerpt from Sermon on John 2, 13) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler explains the migration of the “almah” of Isaiah through the Greek translation of virgin used by Luke. The blood of bulls and goats proclaimed a transfusion of life into the heart of sinners prior to Jesus' obedience to the Will of God. Friar Jude shares a model for us in the vulnerability and surrender of Mary’s theophany.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces spiritual writer Adele Ahlberg Calhoun who describes how Jesus looked for “teachability” in those who followed him.
Jesus was passionate about those with ears to hear. He was attracted to those who willingly admitted how much they didn’t know. People who could lay aside their prejudices and entertain something new were often the recipients of Jesus’ transforming word. Jesus is still looking for teachable disciples. How teachable are we? Do we hide behind our knowledge and feel uncomfortable being the learner? Will we be the student again and again and again? (Rohr, 2023)
We ponder the “yes” of Mary that establishes vulnerability, surrender, trust, and love as the disposition that reveals the Will of God.
References
Hebrews, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/10?
Isaiah, CHAPTER 7. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/7?10
Luke, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/1?26
Mattingly, M. (2023, March 25). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/032523.html
Psalms, PSALM 40. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/40?7
Rohr, R. (2023, March 25). Cultivating a Beginner's Mind: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/cultivating-a-beginners-mind-weekly-summary-2023-03-25/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 25, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=mar25a
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