Friday, March 25, 2011

The Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity)

"With God nothing will be impossible."
Luke 1:37

"Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." -- Isaiah 7:11

The thought follows the look; delight comes after the thought; and consent after delight. -- St. Augustine

Look
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel." -- Isaiah 7:14

Thought
And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.

Delight
And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name 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 his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." -- Luke 1:28-32

Consent
And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. -- Luke 1:38

Then I said, "Lo, I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me; I delight to do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart."

I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; lo, I have not restrained my lips, as thou knowest, O LORD. I have not hid thy saving help within my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness from the great congregation.

Do not thou, O LORD, withhold thy mercy from me, let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness ever preserve me! -- Psalms 40:7-11