The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the historical announcement by the angel to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of the Savior, Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit (Cf. Luke 1:26-38). The Evangelist Luke tells us that this event occurred in the sixth month after the conception of St. John the Baptist by Elizabeth.
As a Virgin, Mary had anxiety and concern, about how this would be possible. The angel removed her anxiety and assured her saying: âThe Holy Ghost would come upon you; and the power of the Most High will overshadow youâ (Luke 1:35). Even though Mary had not fully understood, how her motherhood would be reconciled with her vow of virginity, she placed her total trust in Godâs almighty power and responded: âBehold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your wordâ (Luke 1:38).
It is the will of the Heavenly Father that the assent of Mary must precede, before the Incarnate Word, Jesus, would take human nature. Through her assent, just as a woman, Eve, was the cause of death, a woman, Mary, has become the cause of life for humankind. Having consented to the Word of God, Mary committed herself not only to become the mother of Jesus but also to devote her whole life for the person and ministry of her Son, Jesus. She was able to fulfill all these because she was filled with plenitude of grace.
In his masterpiece of Marian Spirituality, St. Bonaventure (13th century) wrote the true depth of meaning of the Angelic Salutation to Mary: âWhen the Blessed Virgin said Yes, freely, to the plans revealed to her by the Creator, the divine Word assumed human nature; a rational soul and a body, which was formed in the purest womb of Mary. The divine nature and human were united in a single Person: Jesus Christ, the true God and thenceforth, true Man; the only-begotten and eternal Son of the Father and from that moment on, as Man, the true Son of Maryâ.
May the Mary Mother of God pray for us
Fr. Arul Joseph V.
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