Dear friends in Christ,
Today we rejoice in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ as we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord Jesus Christ to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast commemorates the announcement by Gabriel the Archangel to Mary that she was to bear a son, who would be the savior of the world.
There’s a lot we could celebrate. We could give thanks for our Father’s love in sending his Son to dwell among us. We could give thanks for Mary’s bold “yes” to God’s astonishing invitation. We could give thanks for the Holy Spirit, who makes all this possible. And, above all, we can give thanks for our salvation through the offering of Jesus Christ. The collect appointed for today says it beautifully:
Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Today, we rejoice. But even in that rejoicing, we are aware that it is the suffering and death of Jesus Christ which makes our redemption possible. We are just a few days away from Palm Sunday and its focus on the passion of Jesus Christ. But, today, be joyful! By tradition, Lenten penitence is set aside for this feast day. Eat that candy. Enjoy that treat. Give thanks for God’s love.
And, in a few days, we will see the depth of God’s love as we recall Jesus Christ’s self-offering. We need the whole story for any of it to make sense. So let us enter fully into the sorrow, mystery, and joy of this season.
Yours faithfully,
Scott Gunn
Executive Director
More from our ministry:
Webinar TODAY at 12pm ET:
Discipleship from a Global Perspective, with Ranjit Mathews
Hear more from Mary and her compatriots: Bible Women
Get ready to rejoice through Eastertide: Easter Triumph, Easter Joy
Pray with us this feast day, and every day: prayer.forwardmovement.org