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Gospel Reading for March 25, 2026 – Luke 1: 26-38
SILENCE
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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The announcement of the Angel Gabriel did not come as a grand event. There was no fanfare, no crowd—only Mary and the angel. It was a quiet, intimate moment, perhaps while Mary was at prayer, which allowed her to recognize that it was truly a messenger of the Lord who stood before her. Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah, entered the world in SILENCE.
Some claim that Mary doubted God when she asked, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” But was this truly doubt? She was not questioning God’s power; rather, she was seeking to understand how his will would unfold. That is why, when the angel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and that the power of the Most High would overshadow her, she responded with her wholehearted “yes.”
Mary could have withdrawn after hearing that she would conceive. How could she explain this to Joseph? Would he not think her unfaithful? What would the people say? According to the Law, she would have faced rejection—even death by stoning. Yet despite these fears, she chose to trust.
God often speaks to us in the SILENCE of our hearts. We only need to listen attentively to hear his voice and to what he says. This requires that we quiet the noise around us—especially the inner noise brought about by worldly cares and concerns.
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)
