Annunciation...an Easter Blessing

~~~ Annunciation of the Lord ~~~

 

~~~ Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10 ~~~ Psalm 40 ~~~ Hebrews 10:4-10 ~~~ Luke 1:26-38 ~~~ 

 

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

 

The Blessed Mother Mary gives us a beautiful example

of what it means to live a life of faith.

She was an example of the gospel message even before

it was preached by her own Son.

She had faith in the Resurrection from the beginning...

perhaps that conviction gave her the strength

to make the sacrifice of her child.

 

Mary knew in her heart from the time of the Annunciation

 that God was only loaning this child in her womb to her.

 She knew in her heart, but she still had to live the thirty-three years

with her Son knowing he would give his life for the sins of the world.

 

Today we remember that Mary said yes to both the birth and the death

of Jesus.

 

Mary was to give birth to Emmanuel...she brought God with us into reality.

She was chosen by God for this special honor.

I often reflect on exactly what kind of woman Mary must have been

for God to have picked her.

There were so many others he could have chosen, but God picked Mary.

There was something extraordinary about who she was as a young girl.

God was preparing her for himself from her own conception.

He prepared her heart so that keeping her free will

she gladly accepted the announcement from the Angel Gabriel.

 

Today we celebrate the beginning of the rest of the beautiful life of Mary.

 

The grace of God permeated throughout her life.

It was only by this grace that she was able to

have the strength to endure the sadness she must have experienced.

 

Mary was fully human; she experienced all of the emotions

as any other mother.

We thank you, Mary, for saying yes.

We thank you for your sacrifice of love you made for us.

 

We can only give to in return our devotion and love.

You were a gentle and strong woman.

 

Your life is an inspiration to me.

Your complete surrender to the will of God is unsurpassed by any other woman.

You are the woman for all ages...the shining star so bright and pure.

You are the one who brought forth the Light of the World.

 

My prayer today is for your qualities to become a part of who I am too...

a strong and gentle woman who loves God with her

whole heart, mind, body, and soul.

 

Easter Blessings

 are nestled here within the

 Annunciation.