During this season of Lent, I will be working through Bishop Robert Barron’s Lenten Gospel Reflections (available through Word on Fire). Each day, I will share the readings and the reflection question, followed by my own thoughts.
March 25, 2022: The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, and The Consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Luke 1:26–38 (RSV2CE)
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!”
29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no husband?”
35 And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible.”
38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
And the angel departed from her.
How is Jesus the King of your world right now? How can you support the building of His everlasting kingdom?
The angel’s words resonate sweetly when we face uncertainty: “Of His kingdom there will be no end.” We can be assured that no matter what comes to pass, Christ’s kingdom will never fall. His Church, built upon the rock, will withstand any trials and tribulations (Matthew 16:18). We, though, are fickle. Our hearts are unreliable. We are prone to waver and fall. But we are given a promise: “He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22). Lord, grant us the grace of perseverance. My life is yours; let me willingly hand over to You anything that I am tempted to keep for myself – my words, my actions, my desires, my thoughts. Align my will, which is so selfish, to Yours. Align my heart to the great commission You have given us (Matthew 28:19-20). Let me be an example of Your love to my wife and children. Let me be an example of Your love to my coworkers. Let me be an example of Your love to all I meet.
Steven Mills 