Homily for the Feast of Annunciation (2)

Theme: ‘Let it be to me according to your word.’

By: Fr. Karabari Paul

Homily for Friday March 25 2022

Today is March 25. It is exactly 9 months before Christmas. On this day, Mary gave her consent to divine purpose. In the Gospel (Luke 1:26-38), Mary said ‘yes’ to one of the most unusual, painful tasks God has given a person: carry God’s child, nurture and raise ‘the Son of the Most High’ (Luke 1:32), despite being an unmarried virgin, in the face of all of the disbelief and judgement.

One amazing thing but noteworthy is the absolute trust Mary had in God and the entire plan. You would expect that she would ask the angel to involve Joseph since she was legally his. She knew that death could be her punishment if she was found to be with a child without the natural contact with the husband. Still, she didn’t even ask the angel who else should settle this whole plan with Joseph. When we learn to trust in God’s plans, He takes care of the issues that may follow. He defends His name at all times.

Mary wasn’t given the whole picture. She said ‘yes’ before she knew the joy of being the earthly mother of heaven’s King, and the stomach-wrenching pain of His crucifixion to save us. But this was no trick. Angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary ‘greatly troubled’ her. Mary knew that this was big. And her response? ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word’.

Mary said ‘yes’ to the most astonishing event in history: God becomes born.
God has a similar challenge for us. He wants each of us to say ‘let it be to me according to your word’. But for us, His word is ‘that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith … that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God’ (Ephesians 3:17-19). But this is what we are always avoiding. We want our own will. We want to settle our ego. We don’t want an intruder. We desire uncontrolled freedom. We lack trust in God’s process. It doesn’t satisfy the earthly man and woman.God wants us to say yes to Him taking over the way that we think, feel, and act so that we can be living firmly in His love, and truly bear Him. The problem is that we keep resisting the will of God for us. We want it our own way and time. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. God bless you and your household always through Christ Our Lord Amen Happy Solemnity. Good morning

Fr. Karabari Paul