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The incarnation of Christ made known by the message of an angel
Published: March 18, 2023
By Betsy Wiederkehr Huss
Blessed Sacrament Church, Jonesboro
Nine months until Christmas, “Yes!” You might be thinking, “She must like those channels with Christmas movies.” Or “Lady, we are in Lent, not Advent.” But do you realize, March 25 is the feast of the Annunciation? When the angel of the Lord declares to Mary that she is chosen to bear God’s Son, Jesus the Christ, our Savior.
Mary’s “Yes,” celebrated at the Annunciation, comes nine months prior to celebrating Christ’s birth, the Word Incarnate, the second person of the holy Trinity becoming human and living among us.
Two devotional prayers come to mind when thinking about Mary as God’s instrument, conceived of the Holy Spirit, to carry out the Father’s plan of redemption and salvation for humankind through Jesus, the Son. They are the joyful mysteries of the rosary with the Annunciation as its first mystery and the Angelus.
We are all sinners, we need Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. Mary grew in understanding her role as Mother of God. She is blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of her womb, Jesus.
Both include the angel (“angelus” in Latin) appearing and announcing to Mary her role in salvation history (Luke 1:26-38). Whose angel, was it? The Lord God’s messenger. What did the angel Gabriel declare? Miracle of miracles, that Mary was full of grace, and would conceive of the Holy Spirit.
Mary calls herself the handmaid of the Lord. She is willing to serve. She trusts God and God’s word to happen accordingly. The Lord is with her. She is not alone, ever. Neither are we. Who is this Word made flesh mentioned in the Angelus? We look to John’s Gospel (1:1-18). “In the beginning ‘was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’”
We continue, “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. … because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Jesus dwelt among us. Everyday people, leaders politically and religiously, friends, his disciples, enemies, those jealous of him, those wanting him dead, those seeking him, those wanting healing, those who couldn’t care less, those wanting him to be the ruler, the sick, the outcast, the widow, the mourning, the poor, the rich, families, all sinners, all needing a savior.
We are all sinners, we need Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. Mary grew in understanding her role as Mother of God. She is blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of her womb, Jesus.
Mary is our intercessor extraordinaire — just look at the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1- 12) when she approaches Jesus with their need of more wine. Her confidence and trust in him is displayed by directing the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
The Angelus mentions the promises of Christ. Some are his love, forgiveness and gift of eternal life offered to each one of us. It has us praying for the pouring of God’s “grace into our hearts” so that “by his passion and cross” we might “be brought to the glory of his resurrection.”
It is all God’s doing. We need and hopefully desire God’s grace to penetrate and take residence in our hearts. So, we too will say, “Yes!” to God.
