The Wonder of Annunciation

On May14, 2009 Pope Benedict XVI visited the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, Israel. Here is an excerpt from his homily:

“What happened here in Nazareth, far from the gaze of the world, was a singular act of God, a powerful intervention in history, through which a child was conceived who was to bring salvation to the whole world. The wonder of the Incarnation continues to challenge us to open up our understanding to the limitless possibilities of God’s transforming power, of his love for us, his desire to be united with us….

The Spirit who “came upon Mary” (cf. Lk 1:35) is the same Spirit who hovered over the waters at the dawn of Creation (cf. Gen 1:2). We are reminded that the Incarnation was a new creative act. When our Lord Jesus Christ was conceived in Mary’s virginal womb through the power of the Holy Spirit, God united himself with our created humanity, entering into a permanent new relationship with us and ushering in a new Creation.”

Yes to Life Still Works

March 25th, 2010 by Mary Kochan

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation.

For many of us this has been a very retrospective and introspective week. The cause of life — the fight to make ours a country that values the unborn, the aged, the infirm – seems to have been hit a body blow.

Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards wasted no time before gloating with her supporters over the millions of dollars that would flow into their coffers by means of the Healthcare legislation passed Sunday. And we know that millions for Planned Parenthood means millions for every other anti-family, anti-life, anti-marriage, and anti-chastity group out there.

But today is the Feast of the Annunciation and it is worth considering the simplicity and worldly poverty of Mary. Arrayed against her, against the coming of the Messiah, was every earthly power intent upon maintaining domination.

Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and his anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds asunder,
and cast their cords from us”
…
I will tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to me, “You are my son,
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron,
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2: 1-3, 7-9).

All Mary did was say yes to life. And it was the defeat of all earthly power.

It’s hard to see when we suffer political defeat, when we are betrayed by false friends, when the work of years seems to evaporate before our eyes. But yes to life still works. Even this week babies were being saved by the steadfast witness of 40 Days to Life.

The future, we must remember, belongs to those who show up. Saying yes to life is a territorial imperative in the battle we are waging here on earth. But regardless of the setbacks, we can be encouraged.

Because today is the Feast of the Annunciation.

Today is the beginning of our salvation. Today is the beginning of the end of sin – including the sin of abortion. Today is the day when yes to life was yes to Life. And so it always is.

And in the end, yes wins.

Mary Kochan, Senior Editor of Catholic Exchange, writes from Douglasville, Georgia.

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