Feast of the Annunciation
Luke 1:26-38
Feast Day Gospel Reflections by Sister Mary Gill

The theme of today's Gospel is the announcement given to Mary from God through the angel Gabriel. This is really about receiving a call, and Mary's response to that call. In this context we might reflect on the calls that we have received, and our responses to those calls.

Like Mary, our calls come in the form of joyous events and celebrations. For Mary, it was being called to bear a son whose name would be Jesus. For us, the call may come as joyous news, for example in the birth of a child in our family, or in an honor given to a friend being celebrated for something well done.

Another aspect of Mary’s call was the announcement of "troubling" news in the message of the angel. Her response was to trust in God, and to ask for help through prayer. Beyond that response, she also reached out to her cousin Elizabeth in helping her deal with what seemed impossible for her. We too are "troubled" many times in our lives through the loss of a family member or friend, or through confronting difficult situations in our own day-to-day lives. What is our response? Should our reaction be like Mary’s gift of faith by trusting in God? Should our reply be reaching out to others when they are troubled? Mary’s final response to this call was made with a generous and open heart. Can we also respond with this same generous spirit?

During this season of Lent, we might ask ourselves how we are responding to God's annunciations to us. What is the deep cause or force within us which enables us to place our trust in God? Let us focus on this profound action of God in Mary's life and our own lives. Will our response be like Mary's? She proclaims: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."

Prayer

“We ask Mary to teach us how to become like her, inwardly free, so that in openness to God we may find true freedom, true life, generous and lasting joy.”
Pope Benedict XVI

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.  He went in and said to her, “Rejoice, so highly favoured!  The Lord is with you.” 

She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour.  Listen!  You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.” 

Mary said to the angel, “But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?”  “The Holy Spirit will come upon you” the angel answered “and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow.  And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.  Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.”  “I am the handmaid of the Lord” said Mary “let what you have said be done to me.”  And the angel left her.

            This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Sister Mary Gill

Sister Mary Gill’s life and ministries have been varied over the last 57 years. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at Waltham, MA in 1953. For approximately forty years, Sr. Mary was engaged in the ministry of education as a teacher and administrator until serious illness caused her to “retire.” She loved every aspect of these ministries. As soon as her health improved, she became involved as a volunteer helping our senior sisters at Mother St. Joseph House in Wakefield, MA. At the same time, she volunteered at the Woburn Senior Center in Woburn, MA. She continues her ministry there today. This ministry has brought another wonderful and fulfilling dimension to her life. She is very grateful for the opportunity to work with these wonderful women and men.

Sr. Mary also enjoys serving on boards and committees in the Boston Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame. She continues to thank God for her improved health; she tries now to reach out to those who are suffering from loneliness or serious illness, by promising them her presence, prayers and support.