Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her
and said, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” Mary was troubled at these words,
wondering what this greeting could mean. But the angel said, “Do not fear, Mary, for God
has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son; and you shall call him Jesus.
He will be great, and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give
him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever; and
his reign shall have no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a
virgin?” 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 holy child to be born of you shall be
called Son of God. Even your relative, Elizabeth, is expecting a son in her old age,
although she was unable to have a child; and she is now in her sixth month. With God
nothing is impossible.” Then Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be
done to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Reflect
“Our God Saves” The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ was announced to Mary, a woman
of simplicity from Nazareth. Mary’s yes to God’s divine plan paved the way for the salvation
of humanity and the natural world. The child whom she was to carry in her womb is the Son
of God, who also entered creation. It is good to reflect on Mary’s cooperation with God’s plan.
Mary’s fiat opened the way for God’s encompassing salvific act. It is a salvation that includes
not only human beings but also the natural world. Hence, our Marian devotion should also
challenge us to cooperate with God’s salvific plan for humanity and the natural world. We are
already in a global climate emergency. Our devotion is also a summons to ecological
conversion, challenging us to lead a simpler lifestyle. If we do not change and do not care
for our common home, we are heading toward a global climate disaster. May Mary, the Queen
of All Creation (cf. LS 241), guide us as we do our part to care for our common home.
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