The Annunciation
From The Rosary - The Life of Jesus and Mary
  Mary had been consecrated to the Temple, as a child.
Her ongoing prayer was that the Messiah would come in her
lifetime and free the people she loved so much. She spent
much of her time in the Temple; but since her father's
death, she spent a great deal of time caring for her aging
mother, Anne. Mary prayed constantly, even while doing her
chores at home. There was a saying: "What good can come
out of Nazareth." Nazareth, through the will of God would
give us Mother Mary, Saint Joseph and Jesus.   It was
late afternoon. March was filled with promise of new
beginnings. Mary had a spring to her step, as she walked
home from the well, from which she drew water each day.
But somehow, this day felt different. Was she remembering
the ancient prayer said at the Seder (the meal celebrating
the Passover): "Why is this night different from any other
night?" At the Seder, there was always an extra place set
at the table in expectation of Elijah's return. But, this
night, the place set was beneath Mary's heart, and it would
be filled by the Messiah!   Let us try to envision how
the events might have taken place. The sun went down, and
dusk began to dim the sky; a chill crept into the air.
Mary was kneeling in her home, lost in prayer. She began
to wonder how it would be, when the Messiah arrived. We
can see her praying, a cool breeze brushing past her. Was
it the winds blowing off the sea, cooling the house? There
was a tingling electricity in the air, a fluttering sound,
like that of birds' wings. She looked around. There was
nothing. Suddenly a great calm came over her. The wind
stopped. There was a hush, a stillness, as if time had
stopped. A figure of a beautiful young man entered through
the window. There was a brightness about him, as if he
were translucent. He looked at her. His eyes were
brilliant. At first, she was frightened; then a rush of
warmth and peace came over her whole body. She couldn't
take her eyes from him.   The Angel said to her,
"Hail, most favored one. The Lord is with you." She was
startled by his words.
          "Do not
be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with the Lord. You
will conceive in your womb, and bear a Child, and you will
call Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the
Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to Him the
throne of David His father, and He will reign over the
House of Jacob forever, and His Kingdom will have no end."
  What was he talking about? How could she conceive
and bear a child? She was a virgin. She wasn't married!
She was engaged to Joseph the carpenter, but they had vowed
to live a celibate life when they became husband and wife.
Yet while she wondered, she never doubted. She asked him
with excitement and awe. It was the way a trusting child
might ask her daddy how an impossible task would be
accomplished.   "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
  The Angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit
will come upon you and the power of the Most High will
overshadow you and for that reason the Holy Child to be
born will be called the Son of God".
She gasped. It was as if she was almost afraid to breathe.
She didn't understand, at that moment, what the messenger
meant by the Holy Spirit coming upon her. The key word in
her mind, in her entire being, was "The Son of God". Is
this Angel speaking of the Messiah? Is he telling me I am
to be the mother of the Messiah, the Son of God? Am I the
one, I've been praying for, the one to be the vessel to
bring salvation into the world? Is that what he's saying?
Mary knew that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. It
was part of Holy Scripture. But, she never dared to think
she would be the one. Her prayer had been that the Messiah
would be born in her generation and she might serve the
mother of the Messiah.   The Angel further affirmed
the power of God. He added:
"And behold, your cousin Elizabeth in her old age has also
conceived a son; she is in her sixth month, and everyone
thought she was barren. You see, with God, nothing is
impossible."   Mary silently prayed: "Oh, my Lord, it
is You! Is this really possible? Would You give this
honor to me? I'm not worthy."  But the words of the
Angel pierced her senses, opening her heart and mind: "You
see, with God, nothing is impossible." She responded, in
her heart: "I trust You, my Lord and my God. I know You
would never hurt me. And I would give up my life for You."
  She looked up at the Angel before her. He was
waiting for something, what? Was this messenger of God
waiting for an answer from her? She looked at him, again.
He was waiting for her yes! Tears streamed down her face.
He looked at her with so much love. His gaze filled her
with a profound warmth. She gave her answer:
"I am the handmaiden of the Lord. Let it be done unto me
according to your word." And as the tears cascaded down
her cheeks, she cried out in her heart, "Yes! I say Yes!"
  Could she hear the choirs of Angels singing praises
to the Lord, at these words of their future Queen? The
Angel before her, whom we know to be Gabriel, looked at her
with blinding joy in his eyes. A brilliant light filled
the room, and surrounded her. She felt a surge of energy
go through her. She looked up at the Angel. He looked at
her. He smiled. It was done.   The Angel slowly
disappeared, and the room became dark.
The girl, now woman, sat in the darkness, her heart
beating, her mind racing. She repeated silently, the words
of the Angel. She was to be the Mother of God. She could
feel His Presence inside her. It was true. Now she
understood! For more information about The Rosary the Life
of Jesus and Mary click here  
----------------------------------------------------
Bob and Penny Lord are renowned Catholic authors and
television hosts on EWTN, Global Catholic television. They
are prolific writers about the Catholic faith, especially
the Saints for which they have been dubbed "experts on the
Saints." For more information about the Rosary go to:
http://www.bobandpennylord.com/yg56.htm
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=88648
