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Gospel Reading for March 25, 2025 – Luke 1: 26-38
A VERY CRUCIAL MOMENT
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” 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. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “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. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”Then the angel departed from her.
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After the fall of Adam and Eve, God did not abandon them. As affirmed by Isaiah 49: 15-16 – “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”
Then, God formulated his “foolproof” Plan of Salvation. He prepared the people of Israel to receive his only Son Jesus, who would redeem man from eternal damnation. According to Matthew, from Abraham to Jesus, there were 42 generations or about 2,000 years. God revealed himself to the people of Israel slowly but surely.
Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, when the angel Gabriel was sent to Mary with a very important message from God. It was A VERY CRUCIAL MOMENT in God’s Plan of Salvation. Imagine all the angels in heaven listening intently to Gabriel, and perhaps when Mary asked, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” there was a chorus of “huh?” But when Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” there was great rejoicing in heaven because finally, the whole human race that was separated from its Creator would soon be saved and be reunited with him forever. This is why we are forever grateful to Mary.
We thank you Father God, for never abandoning us despite the many challenges that the prophets you sent, had to go through. Thank you for your great sacrifice of sending your Son just so we may all be saved!
