Annunciation.

And personal sins to keep our inward parts pure and, as well as secret sins, to keep our inward parts pure, to maintain a friendly relationship with God.
Those who have responsibility for someone or something know that both fear and joy come from it. Responsibility presupposes that the person will be honest, characterful, can be relied upon, and trusted.

In the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, we see that Mary does not immediately give the Angel an answer. Mary first asks questions, has everything explained to her, and then answers: “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38). We sense that Mary approaches the events to follow responsibly from these words. God has chosen one of his daughters, Mary, who abounds in honesty in a character.

Mary, in her Annunciation, realizes that when she gives her consent, her life will be not only a joy but also a pain. However, she need not be afraid and apprehensive; on the contrary, Mary can rejoice that she has found so much favor with God. The Angel tells her what she knows well from the writings of the prophets, for the whole nation is eagerly awaiting, longing for the Messiah. The Angel tells her what she also understands; God calls her to great things. She knows that God’s message is a command to her. And so the Jew has two seemingly contradictory things to say, “How shall this be, for I do not know the man?” (Luke 1:34). The Angel gives her the explanation that other events are the work of the Holy Spirit, who not only in her case but also in that of her relative Elizabeth, has manifested his power: “It is already in the sixth month. And they said of her that she was barren! For nothing is impossible with God” (Lk 1:36-37).
Mary realizes that if she is to become the mother of the Messiah, she must break the promise she has made to God. The Angel gives her an explanation. After this explanation, Mary is willing to give her consent. However, the Angel also gives her another sign, which she does not even ask for, namely her relative Elizabeth. Mary says: “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38).

At this moment, the Incarnation took place. She who will be venerated as Virgin, Mother, Queen, is called the Handmaid! The Angel pays the created things’ homage to the Mother of God and the Queen of Angels. She leaves. Mary sees in her spirit, at least for a moment, the future glory of the Kingdom of God, which she will establish on earth at the end of the world as a descendant of David.

The event of the Annunciation, which is also commemorated in the Church by the Angel of the Lord’s Prayer at the sound of the bells, reminds us of the greatness not only of Mary’s consent given to the Angel but also of the fact that we, in our lives, must also give our consent for God to be in us. Mary at the Annunciation became the vessel that held within her the most precious contents if we can even use such words of simile. No other ship can compare to her. And yet, the commemoration of this event is a reminder to us who are marked by original sin and personal sins to keep our inward parts pure and maintain a friendly relationship with God. For us, it is the knowledge that we are in sanctifying grace and can approach the Sacrament of the Altar.

For our practical life, there are several encouragements. We often witness someone offending God and sinning in our presence. The reaction on our part is usually interesting. Instead of avoiding offending God, we typically still join in and think we are doing good.

A man comes home drunk; his wife doesn’t stick around and gives him a nasty scolding. Someone steals; we salve our consciences by thinking he is better and steals; therefore, I can steal too because I consider myself weaker. Someone does not want to go to Church on Sunday, and another sends him there with insults, even insults, and we also witness that instead of attending the whole mass, he leaves early or does not go to Church at all and walks around the Church. Someone makes a mistake, an error in his carelessness and weakness – and we are already judging, slandering, gossiping… This is what is called “sin as sin.”

But our effort must be aware that when another offends God, casts him out of the family, the home, the parish; we must not help him in this. We must restrain God from leaving. We do this by atoning for the sins of others. By praying for hardened sinners, setting a good example, loving sinners but not their sins! I know from my own life that all it takes is so little; a good example of a restrained attitude, and more will be done, and even those who have not valued their relationship with God will feel, after our model, that they too must have responsibility for their souls. Thus, not only does a man improve in his spiritual life, but he also becomes a more honest man.

Let us not be afraid of our responsibility, but on the contrary, let us rejoice that we can work for the extension of God’s kingdom on earth. Let us encourage one another with good words and examples.