Annunciation I

Annunciation
Anyone responsible for someone or something knows that there is fear and joy. Responsibility presupposes that a person will be honest, characteristic, reliable, and trustworthy.

When we proclaim the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, we see that Mary does not give the Angel an answer right away. Mary first asks, can she explain everything, and only then will she answer, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). From these words, we feel that Mary approaches the events to follow. God chose one of his daughters – Mary, who is full of honesty and character.

During the proclamation, Mary realizes that her life will be joy and pain if she gives consent. However, she does not have to be afraid or worried; on the contrary, Mary can be glad that she has found so much favor with God. The Angel tells her what she knows well from the scriptures of the prophets, for the whole nation eagerly awaits, longs for the Messiah. The Angel tells her what she understands and that God calls her to great things. She knows that God’s message is an order to her. And so he Jews two things that seem to contradict each other: “How will this happen, because I do not know a man?” (Lk 1:34). The Angel explains to her that the other events are the work of the Holy Spirit, who, not only in her case but also in her relative Elizabeth, showed his power: “It is already in the sixth month. And they said she was barren! For nothing is impossible for 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, let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).

At this point, the incarnation took place. The Angel pays homage to the Mother of God and the Queen of Angels. The one who will be worshiped as the Virgin, Mother, Queen, is called the Servant! Leaving. In her spirit, Mary sees, at least for a moment, the future glory of the kingdom of God, which, at the end of the world, will establish the earth as a descendant of David.

The event of the proclamation, which we commemorate in the Church and through the prayer of the Angel of the Lord when hearing the bells, draws our attention not only to the greatness of Mary’s consent given to the Angel but also to the fact that we must also give consent in our lives for God to be in us. At the Annunciation, Mary became a vessel that contained the most precious content, if we can use such comparison words. No other ship can match it. And yet, remembering this event for us who are marked by inherited sins and personal sins is a reminder to keep our insides clean and maintain a friendly relationship with God. It is aware that we are sanctifying grace and can approach the Sacrament of the Altar.

There are several encouragements for our practical life. We often witness that someone is insulting God and committing sin in our presence. The reaction from us is usually interesting. Instead of preventing God from insulting us, we often join in and think we are doing well.

The man comes home drunk; the woman does not stay and scolds him ugly. Someone steals; we soothe our conscience that he is better and pockets, so I can steal too because I consider myself weaker. He does not want someone to go to Church on Sunday, and another sends him there with insults and even insults, and we are also witnessing that instead of attending the whole Mass, he leaves earlier or does not go to Church at all and walks around it. Someone makes a mistake, a mistake in their carelessness and weakness – and we are already judging, gossiping, gossiping … This is said to be “sin is sin.”

However, we must be aware that when another insult God expels him from the family, the house, and the parish, we must not help him. We must keep God from leaving. We do this by pleading for the sins of others. A good example is praying for hardened sinners, loving them, but not for their sins! I know that so little is enough; an excellent example of a restrained attitude, and more will be done. Even one who has not valued his relationship with God will feel after our model that he too must have responsibility for his soul. In this way, a man improves his spiritual life and becomes more honest.

Let us not be afraid of our responsibility, but on the contrary, we look forward to expanding God’s kingdom on earth. Let us encourage each other with good words and examples.