THE GOSPEL: LUKE 1:26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was perplexed by his words 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.
REFLECTION: “May it be done to me according to your Word.”
It is not “Let it be done…” which sounds imposing. “May it be done” reveals the humility of Mary as she responds to the call of God.
Pope Francis is calling on everyone worldwide to join together in praying the Our Father at 6:00am US Central Time (12:00noon at Vatican) on Wednesday,
March 25 to implore God to rid the world of the coronavirus pandemic that
is wreaking havoc everywhere. Please join me at 6:00am tomorrow in praying:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Michael Catholic Churches
103 Golf Club Lane, Springfield, Tennessee 37172
615-384-6200 | ollsm@att.net www.OLLSM.com