The Annunciation of the Lord

Blessed Virgin Mary is the mother of God the Son and our Lord.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, the Solemnity of Annunciation of the Lord, April 8th, 2024
Texts: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10; Psalm 40:7-11; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38 

The Annunciation of the Lord reveals the relationship of Blessed Virgin Mary with the Trinity. She is the favoured daughter of God the Father. This is clear in the greeting of angel Gabriel in today’s gospel, "Hail, full of grace, the  Lord is with you!" Again he says, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.” 

Blessed Virgin Mary earned her relationship with God by the grace, for it was already in God’s plan. We know this in today’s first reading: “Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” The grace of God is not only available to the Blessed Virgin Mary, God’s grace is available to all in Christ Jesus. We should avail ourselves of God’s grace and make it active in our lives. Like Mary we are to say, “let it be to me according to your word.” 

God the Holy Spirit makes her His spouse

Blessed Virgin Mary is the spouse of God the Holy Spirit. This is clear in the words: “And Mary said to the angel, ‘How shall this be, since I have no husband?’ And the angel said to her, ‘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.’” Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit makes her His spouse.  

The Annunciation also reveals that Blessed Virgin Mary is the mother of God the Son. We read, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name  Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High”. Blessed Virgin Mary is the mother of God the Son and our Lord.

Prayer 

O God, who willed that your Word should take on the reality of human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that we, who confess our Redeemer to be God and man, may merit to become partakers even in his divine nature. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke