Greetings on this the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Readings: Is 7:10-14; 8:10;Ps 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11; Heb 10:4-10;Lk 1:26-38
Notes: IborrowedalaptopsoIcouldwriteyoutoday.As you can see thkeyoardisnotrespondingwelltomy typing.
Definitions
Handmaid– to serve.
Mature – to be fully formed in a particular regard. To act accordingly.
Personal note: Integration into the Franciscan community is a slow process. Everyone is nice and welcoming. But there are distinct advantages, approved to head out on a five week Camino de Santiago de Francis. Nearly 500 miles by foot. April start.
Let us go (MK 1:38).
Today we celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord which is a promise kept from of old.
For thus says the Lord GOD: Look! I myself will search for my sheep and examine them (EZ 34:11).
This is a celebration of Incarnation (happens at conception) and the promise of the Infancy of Jesus (happens at birth, 9 months to the day).
We celebrate the Immaculate Conception on December 8th.
Franciscan Media: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/annunciation-of-the-lord/
Pope Francis encourages us to consecrate ourselves to the Blessed Mother today.
VENERATION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20020513_vers-direttorio_en.html#Chapter%20Five
First Reading
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us!”
Responsorial Pslam
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Second Reading
By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Verse Before the Gospel
The Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us;
and we saw his glory.
Gospel
- Immaculate.
- Annunciate.
- Conception.
- Birth.
What differentiates Mary?
- Her Immaculate Conception.
- Her Motherhood – Theotokos. WIKI- The Council of Ephesus in AD 431 decreed that Mary is the Theotokos because Her Son Jesus is both God and man: one divine person from two natures (divine and human) intimately and hypostatically united.
- Her YES to the Lord.
Why is that?
- Mary was conceived with a perfect receptivity to love and a perfect capacity effectuated, reciprocal love.
- Mary was conceived with the full maturity of love – even in the womb.
- She is the complete essential human expression of love. This is why there is no Original Sin stain, nor concupiscence, nor Actual Sin. She was in perfect love of the Beloved.
- Her love did not need to mature, although it did grow through experience, but its capacity was complete at the beginning.
The young girl YES was in the full maturity of love – receptivity to divine love and RECIPRICOL in her love for Father and Son.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (MK10:45).
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her (LK1:38).
Adam and Eve learned how to love. So do we.
Adam gave elemental love: This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of man this one has been taken (Gen 2:23). Eve did not reciprocate.
They both needed to learn much about love.
Cain did not understand love.
Then the LORD said to Cain: Why are you angry? Why are you dejected? If you act rightly, you will be accepted;* but if not, sin lies in wait at the door: its urge is for you, yet you can rule over it (Gen 4:6-7).
Eve learned love through loss.
Adam again had intercourse with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she called Seth. “God has granted me another offspring in place of Abel,” she said, “because Cain killed him (Gen 4:25).
The RUAH breath of God is within us so we know how to love but the gap is our growth.
We call it freewill but it is in reality the imperative to grow in love.
The word LOVE.
First Appearance of the word LOVE.
After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. (Genesis 22:1–2).
Simon, do you love me?
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,* “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (Jn 21:35).
WIKI– The word “love” appears 57 times in the Gospel of John, more often than in the other three gospels combined. Additionally, it appears 46 times in the First Epistle of John.
What to make of this.
Mary is our model of love from the interior, from our very essence.
For Mary, in a singular grace, from conception fully mature.
For everyone else, our work on Earth.
Grow in love.
Ask Mary for assistance in what she excels in – receptive love, reciprocal love.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 