Today, the Gospel read at Mass is from the book of Luke. It is the story of the Annunciation when the angel Gabriel was sent by God as the messenger to deliver the good news of the Incarnation to Mary.
After Mass this morning, I sat in the Church, pondering this story, which is so important to our faith, especially in this season of preparation for Christ’s coming. It then dawned on me, by the grace of God, that the Mass is also our Annunciation.
Mary, our model of prayer, had the proper disposition to receive the Word of God. We, too, can have this proper disposition! When we have received God’s mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation and come to Mass with pure hearts, we are fully prepared to hear the Word proclaimed in the Scriptures and receive Jesus Christ, Body and Blood, in the Eucharist.
The angel Gabriel brought the Word of God, who is Jesus, to Mary, just as the priest prays in Eucharistic Prayer 1, “command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty, so that all of us who through this participation at the altar receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing.” The angel is actively partaking in the role given by God as a messenger, that Jesus Christ may be brought into the world and received by us.
We, then, must imitate Mary, the perfect disciple, in responding with great faith and humility, saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38, NABRE) When we follow in the footsteps of Our Blessed Mother, we imitate Christ more perfectly, sharing Him and the hope of salvation with the whole world. Next time you go to Mass, make sure you are in a state of grace and arrive a few minutes early to prepare your heart to receive Christ, that we, following in the footsteps of Our Lady, may bring Christ into all that we do.
Yours in Christ,
Jesse Iamarino
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