The will of God

April 8, Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Daily Readings:  Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38

In the first reading, Isaiah told the people of Israel that God himself would give a sign that “the virgin shall be with child, bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us!"  The second reading reflects on how Jesus submitted himself to do the will of his Father: “As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.

The  Gospel reading speaks of the annunciation of the angel Gabriel to Mary that she will bear the son of God. Though she has a lot of questions because she has no relations with men, the Angel assures her that the Holy Spirit will be with her and, through the power of God, will overshadow her because there is nothing possible to God.

The announcement by the archangel Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son through a virgin birth and become the mother of Jesus Christ, the Christian Messiah and Son of God, marks the Incarnation. Incarnation means 'to take on flesh”.
For us Christians, the incarnation shows that Jesus was fully God and human. Despite that Jesus is fully God, he submitted himself to the will of the Father; he suffered and died for us.

Both the attitudes of Jesus and Mary were very admirable in how they accepted the will of God in their life.  In the case of  Mary, though she has a lot of questions, with humility of heart, she acknowledges the invitation of God to become the mother of Jesus.

Lord, help us ponder God's will in our lives and help us embrace it with humility of heart. Amen.