The solemnity of the Annunciation is today. Here is a reflection from Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of Saint Mary Magdalen, OCD:The Angel's explanation does not prevent future events and circumstances from remaining hidden and obscure to Mary. She finds herself face to face with a mystery, a mystery which she knows intuitively to be rich in suffering; for she has learned from the Sacred Scriptures that the Redeemer will be a man of sorrows, sacrificed for the salvation of mankind. Therefore, the ineffable joy of the divine maternity is presented to her wrapped in a mystery of sorrow: to be willing to be the Mother of the Son of God means consenting to be the Mother of one condemned to death. Yet Mary accepts everything in her fiat: in the joy as well as in the sorrow of the mystery, she has but one simple answer: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord."
Happy Annunciation Feast!
ReplyDeleteIt is a Joyful Sorrow. The Annunciation is March 25th in the Orthodox Church as well. Even though it is during Lent, Orthodox Christians are told to celebrate with joy. May I, like Our Lady the Theotokos, be able to say to the Lord, "Be it done to me according to Thy Word."
ReplyDeleteHappy Feast to you all!
ReplyDeleteYes, Juliana, although the Annunciation is a joyful mystery from the moment Our Lord was conceived His sacrifice on our behalf had begun. "Behold I come to do your will, O God."
The reflection is lovely---how blessed we are to have such a mother!
ReplyDeleteHappy feast day, Elena!
My goodness, I had quite forgotten. I'll have to get going now (rushes out the door>>>>)
ReplyDeleteHappy Feast of the Annunciation! Thank you for this lovely reflection.
ReplyDeleteHappy Feast Day to all!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elena!
ReplyDeleteTroparion Tone 4
Today is the beginning of our salvation
and the manifestation of the mystery which is from eternity.
God Bless,
Juliana