Daily Reflection for Thursday March 25, 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Thursday’s readings at this link: Click Here
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10
Responsorial: Psalm 40: 7-11
Second Reading: Heb 10:4-10
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
Our reflection on Thursday’s readings on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord:
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.
Luke 1:29-30
I have never seen an angel, at least not that I know of. Popular depictions of angels are always beautiful, ethereal creatures. Sometimes they’re even singing. In today’s Gospel, an angel of the Lord appears to Mary to deliver the news of Christ’s incarnation and Luke describes her as “troubled” at what is said. This may be one of the biggest understatements of the Bible.
Frankly if an angel randomly appeared out of nowhere, I don’t think troubled would adequately describe my reaction. Even if a beautiful creature appeared and announced that God had sent them, I would have a very hard time paying any attention to what the angel was telling me. I have often wondered what was going through Mary’s mind when the angel of the Lord appeared to her and what it would be like to be in her shoes. Would I be so quick to accept God’s will?
The answer is probably not. I would like to think that I would have the faith that Mary demonstrated, but I know that my cautious and skeptical nature would definitely make it difficult for me to respond in the way that she did. I would probably be much more like Jonah and require far more convincing. What makes Mary’s response to the angel of the Lord even more amazing is the fact that she was so young and the consequences of premarital pregnancy in Jewish society were severe—public shame for both her and her family and even potentially the prospect of being stoned to death as an adulterer.
Yet Mary says, “May it be done to me according to your word.” Mary put her faith in God and became the most famous woman in the history of the world. Mary’s decision to accept the will of God and bear Jesus for the world is meant to be a model for us -- not just as a model of faith, but a model of action. While we won’t physically bring Jesus into the world, we are called to deliver Him to those that we meet in our everyday life. God is calling us to demonstrate our faith just as He challenged Mary to do so.
How is God calling us to deliver Christ into the world? How will we respond to God when he calls for us?
Wishing you a blessed Lent!
Pete Kuester