Texts taken from the Missal “On Your Word” March-April 2025
Annunciation of the Lord (S)
proper
FIRST READING
From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (Is 7:10-14; 8:10c)
In those days, the Lord spoke to Ahaz: “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, from the depths of the underworld or from on high.” But Ahaz replied: “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” Then Isaiah said: “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, that you must also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold: the virgin will conceive and bear a son, whom she will call Emmanuel, because God is with us.” – The word of God.
Commentary on the first reading
King David wanted to build a temple for God, but God refused, while nevertheless promising David stability for his kingdom. However, as history unfolded, in the verses preceding our passage, the kings of Syria and Israel were marching against Judah to replace King Ahaz, of the tribe of David, so much so that “his heart and the heart of his people trembled.” The Lord then said to Isaiah: “Go to meet Ahaz… and say to him: ‘Pay attention and remain calm, do not be afraid… [their plan] will not happen and will not come to pass!’” This was the first encounter with the prophet. The liturgical text presents the second encounter: “Listen, house of David!… The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold: the Virgin will conceive and bear a son, whom she will call Emmanuel (God is with us).” Like Ahaz and the people, we too risk finding ourselves in situations where we see no way out and feel trapped in our own fear. God, however, is faithful to his promises; it is up to each of us to be faithful to God and, in the words of the psalm, say: “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.”
SECOND READING
From the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 10:4-10)
Brothers and sisters, it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. For this reason, as he entered the world, Christ said: “You desired neither sacrifice nor offering, but you prepared a body for me. You took no pleasure in burnt offerings or sacrifices for sin. Then I said: ‘Here I am, I have come – as it is written of me in the scroll of the book – to do your will, O God.’” After saying: “You desired neither sacrifice nor offering, neither burnt offerings nor sacrifices for sin,” things that are offered according to the Law, he then says: “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” Thus he abolishes the first sacrifice in order to establish the new one. By that will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all. – The word of God.
Commentary on the second reading
The Solemnity of the Annunciation takes us back to the day when Mary said her “Here I am” to God, and through it Jesus became one with us by becoming one of us: “As he entered the world, Christ said: ‘You desired neither sacrifice nor offering, but you prepared a body for me. Then I said: “Here I am, I have come… to do your will, O God.”’” This is why Jesus is worthy of faith, his testimony is trustworthy, and his Word is true. He did not love us as a joke, but, in order to come among us, he “did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, assuming the condition of a servant, becoming like human beings” (Phil 2:6-7). He descended to earth so that we might ascend to heaven, where he now sits at the right hand of the Father and where he has gone to prepare a place for us. No other sacrifices or extraordinary efforts are needed, except to let ourselves be loved by the merciful love of God, who saved us in Christ Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us.
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:26-28)
At that time, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” But Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. - The word of the Lord.
Gospel Commentary
Nine months before Christmas, the liturgy invites us to celebrate the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, the day on which we remember that God became flesh and man in Mary's womb. In this way we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus, the Son of God, but we cannot do so without also honoring Mary: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord: may it be done to me according to your word.” Her “Here I am” comes after an exchange marked by questions, uncertainty, and fears: “But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” Experiences that, deep down, we all carry within us when faced with life's questions. Today Mary invites us not to be afraid of our fears and doubts, but, in freedom, to express what we feel, certain that we will be understood: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” And because of this “Do not be afraid,” Mary will allow what the angel announces to her to come to pass: “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus... The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father.” Let us unite our fragile and fearful “yeses” with Mary's “yes,” certain that, as was true for her, so it is for us: “Nothing will be impossible for God.”
