Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25, 2025

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25, 2025

Today’s Readings, from the USCCB:

Reading 1

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying: Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!” Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us!”

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 40:7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11

R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.”

R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!”

R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

I announced your justice in the vast assembly; I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.

R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Your justice I kept not hid within my heart; your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of; I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth in the vast assembly.

R.    Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

Reading 2

Hebrews 10:4-10

Brothers and sisters: It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats take away sins. For this reason, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.’”

First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Verse Before the Gospel

John 1:14ab

The Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us; and we saw his glory.

 Gospel

Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “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. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

 

Here I Am, Lord… But Am I Enough?

"May it be done to me according to your word." – Luke 1:38

Mary’s “yes” is beautiful.

It’s bold, faithful, obedient.

But it’s also hard to relate to sometimes.

Because I’ve never been good at saying “yes” right away.

I hesitate. I overthink. I make excuses. I doubt whether I’m worthy of being asked in the first place.

And some days, I don't even ask for signs from God anymore – not because I’m righteous like Ahaz pretended to be, but because deep down, I worry that the silence will hurt more than the asking.

The Whispered Invitations I Miss

When I reflect on today’s Gospel, I can’t help but wonder how many times I’ve missed the angel.

How many moments in my life God may have nudged me – quietly, subtly, personally – to trust, to act, to speak, to return…

And I either ignored it, rationalized it, or walked the other way.

Sometimes I tell myself I didn’t hear it clearly.

Sometimes I convince myself I’m too far gone to be called.

Sometimes I just feel too tired to believe that I, in all my brokenness, would be chosen for anything.

Because I’ve made peace offerings with my guilt before—like trying to “make it up to God” with sacrifice instead of surrender.

Giving up meat during Lent? Done it.

Donating clothes, playing Santa for charitable fundraisers, showing up for friends in crisis? I’ve done that too.

But God’s not looking for a checklist.

He’s looking for a heart.

A heart that says: Here I am. Even though I’m tired. Even though I’ve messed up. Even though I don’t always feel chosen…I’m still yours.

Mary Didn’t Need All the Answers

One of the most powerful things about Mary’s “yes” is that it came with questions.

She didn’t understand it all.

She didn’t know how it would play out.

She simply trusted that God was in it, and that was enough.

And maybe that’s the kind of “yes” I’m being invited into – not one that has it all figured out, but one that just trusts enough to take the next step.

To write the next reflection.

To show up for my sons even when I feel like I’ve failed them spiritually.

To keep going back to Mass, even when I feel like an outsider in the pews.

To whisper a prayer even when I wonder if it will be heard.

What If I Say Yes, Too?

What if today, my “yes” is this: Yes, I’m still here, God. Still showing up. Still trying. Still hoping that my lost parts can be found again.

Yes, I’m broken, but if You still want me – I’m listening.

What if I don’t have to feel holy to be used by God?

What if the whisper I’ve been ignoring, the ache I’ve been feeling, the daily tug to write these reflections…is the angel standing at the edge of my everyday, asking me to believe again?

And what if I say yes – not because I’m brave – but because I’m tired of hiding from the God who never stopped looking for me?

A Sign, If You Still Want One

The readings begin with an invitation to ask for a sign, followed by the ultimate answer:
“The virgin shall be with child…and his name shall be Emmanuel, which means God is with us.”

Maybe that’s the sign I need.

Not a flash of light.

Not a voice from the clouds.

But the steady truth that even when I feel disconnected…

Even when I feel unworthy…

Even when the silence lingers…

God is still with me.

A Little Less Lost

Maybe my “yes” today is smaller than Mary’s.

But it’s still mine.

It’s still real.

And maybe, that’s the start of being found again.

Because no matter how far I feel from heaven, the Word has become flesh and made His dwelling right here.

In my life.

In my failures.

In my hope.

And if He hasn’t left me yet…maybe I won’t leave Him either.

Here I am, Lord. I don’t know how this ends.

But I trust You enough to keep going.

One yes at a time.

One day at a time.

One step closer to being found.