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.
LECTIO DIVINA:
Read: The focus of the readings this Sunday is the “dwelling place of God.”
In our 1st reading David expressed his desire to build a Temple for God that would house the precious Ark of the Covenant,
but God told him it would be his son who would build the temple. The real temple of God, though, will be Mary,
the Mother of Jesus who is honored with the title “Ark of the Covenant!” Thus,
the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary the good news: “Hail full of grace,
the Lord is with you . . . for you shall conceive the Son of God!”
Reflect: The Ark of the Covenant of the Old Testament was kept in the Holy of Holies.
It contained the 10 commandments (the covenant terms between God and Israel), the rod of Moses,
the staff of Aaron, and bread. Mary, chosen by God from eternity,
will carry in her womb the most Holy Son of God! How awesome this mystery!
The promise of God in the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament with the cooperation of Mary,
the true “Ark of the Covenant!” The first Temple of God is none other than Mary!
Pray: One of the most beautiful prayers is certainly “The Hail Mary!”
It is not only a very biblical prayer but it is the prayer of no less than the Archangel Gabriel
who stands in the Holy Presence of God. When, therefore,
we pray the Ave Maria on our rosary beads we pray like the angels and with the angels! How blessed and privileged are we!
Act: The best contemplative prayer is the Rosary. St. Padre Pio prayed the Rosary continuously.
So much mercy and so many miracles flow from praying the Rosary! Be a contemplative!
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020