Reflection for Wednesday March 25 Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: Luke 1:26-38

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.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

What would we do if we received a shocking announcement—one that could change the course of our lives in an instant? Perhaps our first response would be to turn to God in prayer, asking for His guidance and strength, seeking His light in the midst of uncertainty.

When Mary received the Annunciation from the angel Gabriel—that she would conceive and bear Jesus—she, too, may have experienced a moment of deep astonishment. Yet in that sacred encounter, she did not allow fear to take root in her heart. Instead, she opened herself to God, trusting in His plan even without fully understanding it. In time, her heart found peace, and with humble surrender, she embraced the will of the Lord for her life.

Mary’s divine motherhood reminds us that nothing is impossible for God. He is a God of miracles, a God of boundless possibilities, a God whose grace can transform even the most unexpected moments into blessings. As He worked wondrously in Mary’s life, so He continues to work in ours. When we entrust everything to Him and hold on to unwavering faith, He can bring forth beauty, purpose, and grace beyond what we can imagine.

And yet, as we journey through life, we often encounter trials that test our strength and shake our confidence. There are moments when we feel weary, uncertain, or even afraid. In those times, we may be tempted to lose heart. But the Lord gently invites us to keep walking with Him—to bring before Him not only our hopes and dreams, but also our fears, doubts, and burdens.

Let us continue to seek Him in prayer. Let us persevere in striving for the aspirations He has placed within our hearts. Let us live lives that reflect His goodness, holding firmly to our faith and hope. For the Lord never abandons those who trust in Him; He walks with us, strengthens us, and leads us according to His perfect will.

When God calls us into something unexpected, uncertain, or even difficult, will we hold back in fear—or will we, like Mary, trust Him completely and say “yes” to His will?—Marino J. Dasmarinas