The First Joyful Mystery:
The Annunciation

“The angel of the Lord said to her… ‘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.

“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” (Lk 1:35, 38).

“[T]he angel Gabriel was sent from God…  to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph… and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, ‘Hail, favored one! 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” (Lk 1:26-38).

Mary offered her humble, complete, and unconditional yes to God. She consented though she understood becoming pregnant outside marriage was a big thing in her day. Such a scandal would ruin her life, perhaps even end it. However, Mary’s thoughts were not about herself but rather obeying God, trusting in God. Mary says yes to God’s will, and the Word becomes a tiny embryo in her womb. She trusts in the Lord and obeys him, and God enters into history as one of us. We too must say yes to God—that unqualified, come what may yes—that the Word of God may come to live in us too.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

Mary trusts in God. She does not dwell on what seems fair to her or how God’s plans will impact her life, her personal hopes and dreams. She does not dwell on the likely scandal coming her way or what everyone will think about her. She knows that God’s ways are not our ways, that his ways are far better, and that he works all things to the good of those who love him. She completely trusts in God. We likewise must trust the Lord completely and grow in that trust each day.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

Salvation history culminates with Gabriel’s greetings; salvation history depends on the young virgin’s consent. “St. Irenaeus says, ‘Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.’ Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert… ‘The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith.’ Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary ‘the Mother of the living’ and frequently claim: ‘Death through Eve, life through Mary’” (CCC 494). As Jesus is the New Adam, Mary is the New Eve, the spiritual mother of us all.

Briefly reflect, discuss with God, and Praise God.

Mary the handmaid of the Lord responds with perfect trust and humility. How can we follow Mary’s example and grow in both trust and humility?

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How might you respond if an angel appeared to you with plans that would disrupt your entire life? That would endanger you and overshadow your entire future? God has such plans for you too; he awaits your unreserved yes.

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God is counting on us. Our family, friends, and unknown others are counting on us. How can we follow Mary’s example and offer an unreserved yes to the plans to which God calls us?

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“St Augustine says: ‘Before conceiving the Lord in her body she had already conceived him in her soul.’ She had made room for the Lord in her soul and thus really became the true Temple where God made himself incarnate, where he became present on this earth” (Pope Benedict XVI).