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.’”
