Monday, April 4, 2016



Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

(Isaiah 7:10-14.8:10; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38)

One scene will always stand out in the classic movie “Boys' Town.”  A young boy is carrying an even younger child on his back.  The founder of Boys' Town, Fr. Flanagan, is astounded by the feat.  The boy tries to put the priest at ease.  “He’s not heavy, Father,” he says, “he’s my brother.”  Perhaps the wonder of today’s feast can be summarized with these words.

The Annunciation commemorates more than the angel’s announcement of Mary's divine motherhood.  More to the point, it celebrates God’s taking on human flesh.  In other words, today the Church gives praise to God for becoming a brother.  God does so not to understand better the human experience.  After all, God knows all things.  No, God becomes human so that humans might know Him more intimately, so that they might see how much He loves them.  Like the child being carried by his older brother, humans now have experienced directly God’s closeness.

God’s becoming human links us more closely to one another as well.  He is not only a common bond but also a constant reminder that we have to care about one another.  Remembering Christ's exhortations to love our neighbor, we say with Mary, “May it be done to me according to your word.’”