Today, we celebrate the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord near the end of our Lenten journey. We might have some questions about today’s solemnity in which our liturgical color is white, in contrast to the purple color of Lent.
First of all, where do we get the word “Annunciation”? It comes from the same root words as the verb “announce”. The Angel Gabriel makes an announcement today to the Virgin Mary about Jesus’ upcoming birth. The annunciation is celebrated on March 25, 9 months before Christmas day.
Why is the Annunciation so important to us in our faith and why would we celebrate it as a solemnity? Perhaps the importance of the annunciation, of God being born as man, can be found in Mary’s answer to the Angel. Bernard of Clairvaux, a French Cistercian abbot and theologian born in the 11th century, explains that Mary is in a sense the new Eve. After Adam and Eve had rejected God’s friendship, the world became clouded in darkness and sin. God sought to enter the world in a new way through the birth of Jesus. Salvation is offered to humanity through Jesus the son. Through Mary’s free will, she said yes to her role in becoming the Mother of our Savior. The humble Mary made a bold, daring move and said yes, changing the history of salvation forever. Mary answers God from the depths of her heart and soul: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Through that affirmation to the message announced to her by the Angel, Mary become both the Mother of Jesus and the Mother of the Church. Mary not only becomes our Beloved Mother; she becomes the first disciple, the first one who believed in Jesus as the son of God. May the example of Mary in the Annunciation breathe new life in our faith. May it give us strength and encouragement on our Lenten journey.
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