The glorious Feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God is celebrated on March 25. It was because of Mary’s yes to the Angel Gabriel that Christ was able to come among us in the flesh and lead us from the desert of “sin” to the Crucifixion and Resurrection. On this feast, we celebrate the Incarnation – the conception in Mary’s womb at the announcement of the angel and the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit.

Like the Gospel narrative of the Evangelist Luke (1:26-38), the Church’s Divine Services and the Icon of the Annunciation is permeated with a deep inner joy. It is the joy of the Old Testament promise being fulfilled through the Incarnation – the coming in the flesh – of the Redeemer of the world: Today is the beginning of our salvation and the revelation of an Eternal Mystery: the Son of God becomes the Son of a Virgin and Gabriel announces the Good News of this grace. Therefore, let us join him crying out to the Mother of God: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you. [Read more…]