Homily for the Feast of Annunciation
Theme: I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.
By: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
Homily for Friday March 25 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Isaiah 7:10-14,8:10
Hebrews 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the great Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, marking the moment when the Archangel Gabriel came to the little town of Nazareth before Mary, the one God had chosen to be the bearer of His Messiah, and revealed to her the Good News that all of us mankind had awaited for a very long time.
*WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS FEAST?*
The word Annunciation itself has the same meaning as the word ‘announce’ as the Good News was announced and revealed in this world at long last, that God’s salvation was finally at hand.
This feast is exactly nine months before Christmas, as it was at the very moment that Mary answered the Archangel Gabriel with total submission to the will of God.
*FROM THE FIRST READING*
From the first reading, the prophet Isaiah mentions how God would show His sign in due time to all the people, that a woman would bear a Child, and that woman is a Virgin, who bears the Child with a most peculiar name, that is Emmanuel, or God-is-with-us.
*FROM THE SECOND READING*
The second reading from the book of Hebrews, spoke of the worthy offering offered to the Lord, and highlighted how the offerings of blood and animals of old cannot fully satisfy these offerings and requirements to the Lord. But the perfect and most worthy offering has then been made by none other than Christ Himself, the perfect offering of His own Most Precious Body and Blood, offered willingly and out of perfect and total obedience to the will of God, His heavenly Father.
*FROM THE GOSPEL READING*
In our Gospel passage today, Mary had listened to the words of the Archangel Gabriel, revealing to her how she was to become the Mother of the Son of God Most High, and her acceptance of the role that the Lord had entrusted to her, sealed her role in the history of our salvation
*CONCLUSION*
On this great Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord therefore, let us all reflect and discern carefully our path forward in life. Let us all follow the obedience showed by Mary, the Mother of God as she obeyed the will of God so perfectly, entrusting herself to the care of her Lord, and followed Him in all things. And let us all also follow the example of her Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in His faith and total obedience to the will of His heavenly Father.
*BLESSINGS OF THE DAY*
May all of us draw ever closer to God and may He strengthen us all to live ever more worthily in His presence, now and always. Amen.
Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA