Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

THE SIGN

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. – Isaiah 7:14

        Signs are all around us, but whether we follow what they say or totally ignore them is another story. How many times have we crossed the street when the sign clearly says, “No Crossing,” or walked over the grass when the sign says, “Keep off the grass,” or tossed trash on side streets where there is a “No Littering” sign?

        Signs are meant to guide, direct, warn, and instruct us. This is why we sometimes ask God for a sign when we are praying for something that requires decision-making.

         But maybe we need to ask ourselves if we’re asking for signs to help us in our discernment or merely to validate what we have always wanted. Do we see only the things we want to see and listen only to the voices we want to hear?

         The truth is, God Himself is the sign. Jesus came to redeem us and He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us. If we live our lives in constant communion with God, then why would we even ask for signs to guide us? Jane Gonzales-Rauch (mgr516@gmail.com)

Reflect: It is not a matter of seeing or not seeing a sign from God, but whether we would recognize and accept His plan for our lives.

My dear God, take me deeper into my prayer life and guide me with Your presence. May I go through life in faithful confidence that You are with me at all times.

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

10 The Lord spoke to Ahaz saying, 11 Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!” 12 But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, 8:10 which means, ‘God is with us!’” 

Read the Bible in one year Ruth 1-4

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________

LET IT BE DONE UNTO ME

March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, fell on a Palm Sunday this year, and since it cannot be observed during the days of Holy Week and the Easter Octave, we celebrate it today.

         God sent the angel Gabriel to visit Mary and announce to her the role she is to play in salvation history. The Fathers of the Church have long seen this scene in Luke’s Gospel as God making a proposal to Mary to become the spouse of the Spirit, and Mary giving her free yes, her fiat, to that proposal: “‘I am the Lord’s servant... May your word to me be fulfilled’” (Luke 1:38, NIV).

        I remember being in a plane bound to Davao for a talk. During the flight, a Korean approached the flight attendants, asked for the microphone and, in public, proposed marriage to his girlfriend.  The guy said to the girl, “I have something to ask you and you’re free to choose from the four possible answers. You can either say ‘Yes,’ ‘Of course,’ ‘Why not,’ and ‘Absolutely.’”

         That is the way of men. When we propose, we leave no room for the possibility of rejection. For God it is different. He never imposes. He proposes.  The Book of Revelation summarizes God’s constant posture in His offer of salvation: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20, NIV). God knocks, not barges in.

           Why does God take the risk of rejection? Because that is the way of genuine love. If we were created in a way that we cannot say no to God, then in the same measure, our yes to Him is of no value. God, the courteous hound of heaven, longs for our free and genuine “yes.” For that, He is willing to suffer the embarrassment of an ignorant “no” from worthless yet arrogant humanity. And this is why Mary is the solitary boast of our race. May her yes to God be our own. May that free invitation and gracious response at the scene of the Annunciation be repeated over and over again in human history. Mama Mary, pray for us. Fr. Joel O. Jason

------- REFLECTION QUESTION -------

What is God asking of you today?

With Mary, I offer You my sweet surrender, O Lord. Have Your way with me. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________________