Claire Smith

Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38

Reflection:

One of the commentaries for today’s Solemnity of the Annunciation reminds us of how we often assume that Mary’s inner life is a spiritual blank slate before the angel appears at her door. We know from the Magnificat (Mary’s canticle of praise in Luke’s narrative) how Mary is well-versed in the Sacred Word. Mary already has a vibrant relationship with God before Gabriel shows up. It is not that the Annunciation leads her out of doubt and into faith; it is that her encounter with the angel leads her out of certainty and into holy bewilderment.

Mary hears she is to be overshadowed, that is, God will work in “cloudy,” overshadowing ways, as God did with Moses… When Moses wanted to see God face-to-face, God responded that Divine Presence would overwhelm him, searing his imagination. No one could see God face-to-face and survive.

So, God works INDIRECTLY, by OVERSHADOWING us, in CLOUDY, OBSCURE or MURKY ways. Not just in the lives of Moses and Mary… as this isn’t merely history, but mystery, OUR mystery.

That verb, “to overshadow” (or “come upon”) is a wonderful word! How are angels bringing Good News (Gospel) to you today? Maybe a grandchild who tells you that you are the best cook in the world! Maybe it’s the newspaper delivery person who makes an extra effort to place the paper just outside your door in inclement weather. Or perhaps your spouse who speaks of a God-experience they had today while you’re sharing a glass of wine together.

This week the Vatican released Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. In this holy year designation of “Pilgrims of Hope,” Francis’ message recalls that every vocation—be it to ordained ministry, consecrated life, or the laity—should offer the world a sign of God’s hope for every person. He noted that young people frequently feel dismay and confusion when they look to the future, given the background of insecurity, identity crises, unjust treatment of others, and general indifference. “Yet the Lord, who knows the human heart, does not abandon us in our uncertainty,” said the Pope. “He wants us to know that we are loved, called and sent as pilgrims of hope.”

Happy Annunciation!

Fr. Jack Conley, CP, is the local superior of St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.

Scripture:

2 Kings 5:1-15b,
Luke 4:24-30

Reflection:

Welcoming Jesus

A wonderful experience in my life was kneeling at the altar in the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, where Jesus took on our nature. Written under the altar in Latin is “Verbum caro hic factum est” The Word was made flesh here. Tomorrow’s feast of the Annunciation celebrates and reminds us of the most wonderful event ever to happen in the whole galactic universe!  Mary’s yes to God to receive and welcome the Father’s Son in our human nature was the moment of the incarnation of God.  God loved us so much that He became the size of a pinhead, a zygote! Our awesome God Who creates and empowers trillions of galaxies comes to us. 

The most important and amazing thing in our life is to welcome Him! Today’s Gospel tells us that Jesus after living 30 years in the then small village of about 300 people, he was not welcomed home! They missed the time of their life! “They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.  But he passed through the midst of them and went away.” The inspired Greek text used a very strong and violent word for drive out “exballo” (throw out). One of the saddest words in the New Testament is “He went away” (poreuō)

Do we welcome Jesus? He has been with many of us for a lot more than 30 years. There are 11 words for welcome in the NT. The one used in today’s Gospel is dexomai is used 56 times. We can see how important it is to welcome or receive Him in our lives. Many times each day we must pause even for a minute to welcome Him!  He is very close to us 24/7. Pray to Holy Spirit to help us to be like Mary. No human being ever welcomed Jesus like our Blessed Mother! Don’t walk away from Him and lose the opportunity of your life to be with Him.

Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P., preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Reflection:

The parable of the prodigal son is so familiar a story that it is understandably tempting to automatically tune out, as in heard that story, know that story, end of story.  The most common interpretation of this parable is the allegorical application.  The prodigal son represents the sinners with whom Jesus was eating.  The older brother represents the scribes and Pharisees who resented the unsavory company Jesus kept.  The father represents God receiving those sinners who return to him.

During this Lenten season, however, perhaps a more meaningful approach to this parable may be one in which we examine relationships – with one another, and with God.

The prodigal son

Did the prodigal son make sinfully wrong choices? Yes.  In his actions, this son abused and breached his relationship with his father.  He demanded his inheritance early.  He insisted on taking full control of his own life.  He rebelled against his father.  The son effectively rudely, thoughtlessly, and hurtfully shoved his father aside.  The son departed to a “distant country” and consequently became lost, not because he did not know the way home, but because he had wasted his father’s gift, the gift of his relationship with his father.  He was found only when he “came to his senses” and returned to his waiting father to seek forgiveness and reconciliation – that is, when he returned to the embrace of his father’s loving relationship.

The father

A key point in this relationship is that the father waited, no ran to his returning son, aching and rushing to reestablish their relationship.  The father neither chastises nor punishes his son.  Instead, he lavishly, wastefully, extravagantly, prodigally, had him dressed for a huge welcome home party.

 The elder son

By contrast, the older, self-righteous brother is relationally alienated from both his brother and his father.  Notice the words “this son of yours.”  The elder brother refused the father cajoling and begging that he rejoice in his brother’s return.  Instead, he angrily rejected any relationship with his younger brother.  The gospel writer, Luke, challenges us to reflect on who is the truly lost brother, who is the one missing in a far country.

And us…

Can we see ourselves in each of these brothers?  At times, are we not the ones lost in sin, alienated from God the father, yet to accept God’s extravagant gift of grace, to come to our senses, to repent, to return to a loving relationship with him?  And at times, sadly, do we not fall into the behavior of the elder brother, righteously smug in our faith and in our literal obedience to God’s commands, that we lose our compassion, our understanding, and forgiveness of others.  We lose the loving relationship God desires us to have for one another.

…During this Lenten season

And during this Lenten season, can we see God the father?  He is the one who gives us the freedom to choose him or reject him, but who waits patiently, ready to embrace us in welcome, ready to shamelessly cajole and beg us to love and forgive one another.  Why?  Because, in God, we are called to have an extravagant, prodigious loving relationship with one another as brothers and sisters – you know, the kind of relationship he has for us.

Deacon Manuel Valencia is on the staff at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.