Bishop Burbidge on the Feast of the Annunciation

Bishop Burbidge on the Feast of the Annunciation

How do you imagine the Annunciation scene? Throughout the Church’s history, many artists have attempted to capture the moment when the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she was to be the Mother of God. Each depiction has certain strengths, but they are all incomplete. No human can fully grasp the power and beauty of that exchange between the Archangel and the Mother of God.

Still, we know two aspects about the Annunciation for certain: Mary’s abandonment to God’s will and her joy. Those two things give us a greater appreciation and love for Our Lady. They also prepare us for similar circumstances in our lives.

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). With these words, the Blessed Virgin Mary says “yes” to God. We call this her “fiat.” She perfectly abandons herself to his will. Mary not only chose to do the will of God at that one moment, but she also had a constant expectant attitude, always desiring to know and to respond to his will more. The spiritual writer Father Wilfrid Stinissen describes Mary as a question mark (a curious description). It means that she lived her life always asking, seeking to know what God desired of her. “How can I do your will?” was her constant disposition before God.

At the center of our faith is this truth: Mary’s “yes” brings joy to the world. Without her embrace of God’s will, the joy of salvation would not be known and received. Mary’s “yes” serves as the pattern for all of us to follow.

Doing God’s will brings joy. This might be difficult to understand because we often confuse joy with fun and pleasure. The truth is that doing God’s will is not always fun or pleasurable. It is often difficult because of our weaknesses and increasingly hostile culture. Fun and pleasure are feelings that come and go, but the joy that God desires for us is something much deeper: It is a spiritual reality. Real joy comes from knowing that we are in union with him and cooperating with him in the work of the Gospel. We can experience this joy even in the midst of trials and challenges.

Mary understands our difficulties and struggles. What the Archangel Gabriel announced to her was beautiful beyond compare, but it also presented challenges. How would she explain this to Joseph? And to others? What did this mean for the rest of her life? What was to happen to her Son? The angel’s message brought more questions than answers.

At the same time, the joy of bearing the Messiah and of cooperating with God in bringing the Savior into the world put all her concerns in the proper perspective. The challenges did not suddenly vanish, but deep within her was the joy that comes from knowing she was in union with God and acting as his co-worker in the work of salvation.

What happens after the Annunciation confirms the joy that comes from doing God’s will. After giving her “yes” to God, Mary rises and goes in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Her very entrance into the home of Zechariah brings joy. Elizabeth exclaims, “For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy” (Lk 1:44). On that occasion, Mary bursts into her own song of joy: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Lk 1:46-47).

In the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we invoke Mary as “Cause of Our Joy.” She causes us to rejoice through the conception and birth of Jesus. She also causes us to rejoice by showing us the true path to joy, which is always through abandonment to the will of God, that constant readiness to say “yes” to God.

The Annunciation occurred once and is an unrepeatable event. However, throughout the day we all have “little annunciations,” moments when circumstances invite us to abandon ourselves to God’s will. It may be a simple reminder to pray for and assist someone in need. For some, it may be an invitation to unite a cross you are carrying to the Lord’s and offer it for a special intention. For parents, it may be the practice of showing additional patience with your children and those you love. For others, it may be extending forgiveness to those who have hurt you. Whatever the case, as often as we follow Mary’s path in saying “yes” to God, we become a cause of joy, not only for ourselves but also for others.

May we join with Mary in saying to Our Lord: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

-From the Arlington Catholic Herald

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