Annunciation

In the First Joyful Mystery, we contemplate the angel's annunciation to the Virgin Mary.

From the Gospel of Luke (1:26-31):
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.’

From the Acts of the Council of Ephesus:
The word we pronounce and use in dialogue is incorporeal, impossible to be grasped by sight or touch. However, when it is dressed in letters and external forms, it becomes visible and accessible to sight and touch. In the same way, the Word of God, which by nature is invisible, became visible; being incorporeal by essence, He assumed a tangible body.

Meditation 1
As the letter to the Hebrews tells us (1:1-2): Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.

The communications of the prophets in ancient times were always imprecise, imperfect, and incomplete. That is why God decided to intervene directly in human history, as he did so many times throughout Israel's history. Jesus of Nazareth reveals both the true nature of God and the true nature of humanity, teaching how God relates to man and how man should relate to God.

Meditation 2
When Mary appeared pregnant after visiting her cousin Elizabeth, she had to face her parents, Joseph, and the people of her village alone. The miraculous conception, the work of the Holy Spirit, was a unique event in history, without precedent, which would have sounded far-fetched to the people of that village.

At that time, Mary ran the risk of being seen as an adulteress, since she was already betrothed to Joseph, and the punishment for adultery was stoning, as we know from the episode of the adulterous woman presented to Jesus to be stoned. Surely Jesus remembered his mother at that moment.

Mary suffered silently from slander throughout her life, something that is hinted at in various passages of the Gospel. For many at the time, Jesus was seen as the son of an unknown father, which was a source of shame for both Him and Mary, especially in a patriarchal society. Mark refers to Jesus as the "son of Mary," while Matthew says he is Joseph’s son. Luke decides not to call him either.

Prayer
Lord God,
You who chose Mary, a humble servant,
to be the Mother of Your Son,
teach us to have the same trust and faith
that she showed when she heard Your call.

Give us the courage to say "Yes" to Your will,
even when we do not understand Your plans,
just as Mary accepted with humility and surrender
the divine plan that would change the history of humanity.

Lord, as the angel Gabriel greeted her with grace,
we too ask for Your blessing,
that we may be bearers of Your presence and love in the world,
and like Mary, we may bring Your light
and testify to Your Son, Jesus.

Help us, Lord, to face the adversities
and misunderstandings that arise on our path
with the same patience and silence of Mary,
who knew how to suffer with resilience
and kept everything in her heart, fully trusting in You.

May we, like Joseph, act with justice and mercy,
avoiding hasty judgment
and welcoming others with love and understanding.

O Father, teach us to follow the example of Jesus,
who did not seek to condemn,
but to bring reconciliation and the hope of new life.
May we also be instruments of Your restorative justice,
always desiring the conversion
and life of the sinner, not their downfall.

Lord, make us understand that just as Mary and Your Son
bore the weight of slander and suffering,
we too must persevere through difficulties,
trusting that You are always with us,
even when the world judges and condemns us.

We praise You, O God, for Your unconditional love
and the promise of salvation,
trusting in You today and always.
Amen.

Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC