The Annunciation is the moment that changes everything…
According to Vatican News, Pope Francis stressed this during his daily morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta as he reflected on the mystery of the Annunciation, which revolutionized history.
Recalling today’s Gospel from St. Luke’s (Lk 1:26-38) that is “difficult to preach”, in which the “God of surprises” changes man’s destiny, the Pope observed that it is challenging therefore to preach about this passage.
“The passage from Luke’s Gospel that we have heard tells us the decisive moment in history, the most revolutionary. It is a turbulent situation, everything changes, history turns upside down. It is difficult to preach about this passage. And when at Christmas or on the day of the Annunciation we profess the faith to say this mystery we kneel down.
It is the moment, he underscored, that everything changes, “everything, from the root.”
“Liturgically, today is the day of the root. The Antiphon that marks the meaning today is the root of Jesse, ‘from which a shoot will be born.'”
“God,” he reminded, “lowers himself, God enters history and does so in his original style: a surprise. The God of surprises surprises us (again).”
The Pope re-read Thursday’s Gospel so that the assembly can reflect on the significance of the Annunciation.
“The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. Nothing is impossible for God!’ Mary said, ‘I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.’ And the angel left her,”concluded Pope Francis.
It is the moment, he underscored, that everything changes, “everything, from the root.”
“Liturgically, today is the day of the root. The Antiphon that marks the meaning today is the root of Jesse, ‘from which a shoot will be born.'”
“God,” he reminded, “lowers himself, God enters history and does so in his original style: a surprise. The God of surprises surprises us (again).”
The Pope re-read Thursday’s Gospel so that the assembly can reflect on the significance of the Annunciation.
“The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. Nothing is impossible for God!’ Mary said, ‘I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.’ And the angel left her,”concluded Pope Francis.
