Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25, 2014

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Below, you'll find a special reflection for today, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25, by Linda Ballard, osc from Pax Christi USA's Lenten reflection booklet from 2006. Tomorrow we'll be sending out the Pray-Study-Act (PSA) e-bulletin for the upcoming 4th week of Lent. 

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REFLECTION FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD

By Linda Ballard, osc

Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10 | Hebrews 10:4-10 | Luke 1:26-38

Esmond Lyon's "The Annunciation"

"Do not be afraid ... How can this be?" (Luke 1:30, 34). As our knees bend to Creed this day, it is good to remember that even Lent sings God's willingness to be part of us.

In the five thousand one hundred and ninety-ninth year of the creation of the world, Jesus Christ, desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming, being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and nine months having passed since his conception, was born ... of the Virgin Mary, being made flesh. (Christmas Proclamation)

It is a two-fold celebration today. God asked. Mary answered. God wants us as a partner. God wants us to birth God before peoples and generations. Nine months from today is Christmas. In the midst of our desert wanderings, in the midst of our refusal to see, in the midst of our search for water, God came to a woman bound by death and asked her to bring forth LIFE. And she said yes....