Saturday of the Fourth Week
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
The Responsorial Psalm says, “Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me.”
In the Gospel of Luke, we hear of the angel Gabriel announcing God’s plan to Mary, her reaction, and responses in a few brief paragraphs. Let us not get caught up in today’s reality of instant text messages and responses and be taken in by the simplicity of Mary’s monumental decision. There are key phrases like “greatly troubled,” “how can this be, since I have no relations with a man.” And the angel Gabriel said to her “do not be afraid, you have found favor with God” and “the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.”
Do not be afraid! Being very young and going to have a baby out of wedlock? Wondering how she was going to tell her parents, Joseph, friends, and the reactions from those she loved, and rejected and shamed by all who would judge and shun her.
Do you think she wasn’t afraid? Do you think she said OK, let it be done to me according to your word? Or do you think she pondered this for days, with sleepless nights, loss of appetite, pacing and wringing of hands, and throughout this time praying and reflecting to have “ears open to obedience you gave me”?
Ears of the soul! With an accepting and trusting heart that Mary developed, she was then able to say, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”“
Prayer
Sr. Laura Della Santa, RSM, M’84
