In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.
May the blessing of the Father who calls us, and His Only Begotten Son who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and transforms us be with us all, that we may hear His word and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Amen.
Introduction
My beloved brothers and sisters,
Sometimes a few words can change our whole life.
A doctor gives us news. A family member calls. Someone tells us, “You are forgiven,” or, “You are not alone.” The words may be brief, but life feels different after we hear them.
At the Annunciation, an angel brought a message to a young virgin in Nazareth. That message concerned the salvation of the whole world.
God was coming to us. The eternal Son of God would become man in the womb of the Virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit.
As we commemorate this joyful mystery, let us carry one sentence in our hearts:
God comes close to us, and invites us to respond with faith.
There are three simple things we can learn from this feast.
1. God comes close because He loves us.
The fathers of the church explain that the Annunciation stands at the beginning of the events of our salvation. Without the Incarnation, there would be no birth in Bethlehem, no saving Cross, and no glorious Resurrection.
The Annunciation is the beginning of that wonderful journey.
But why did the Son of God become man?
Because He loves us.
When someone we love is suffering, we want to be near them. A parent sits beside a sick child through the night. A friend comes to the house of someone who is grieving. Love moves toward the person who needs help.
In the Incarnation, the Son of God truly took our humanity. He entered our human life to heal and save us.
Saint Athanasius teaches that the Word who created humanity came Himself to restore humanity when we had fallen into corruption and death.
The One who made us did not abandon us.
Think of Adam after his sin. He hid among the trees because he was afraid. Yet God called to him:
“Where are you?”
Genesis 3:9
God knew where Adam was. His question called Adam out of hiding and into an encounter with Him.
How often do we hide?
We hide behind busyness. We hide our shame behind a smile. We stop praying because we feel we have disappointed God too many times.
The Annunciation tells us that God has come seeking us.
Do not wait until you feel worthy before you return to Him. Begin with an honest prayer: “Lord, I have wandered. Please bring me home.”
His love opens the door to repentance.
And if you are carrying grief, anxiety, or exhaustion, remember that your pain does not make you less precious to Him. You can bring your emotions into prayer. You can also receive help from a trusted person or a qualified professional. Seeking help can be an act of humility and care for the life God has entrusted to you.
The Savior who took our humanity teaches us to treat human weakness with compassion.
2. Faith can ask a question and still trust God.
When the angel spoke to Saint Mary, she asked:
“How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
Luke 1:34
She wanted to understand how God’s promise would be fulfilled.
The angel answered:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you”
Luke 1:35
Notice where the answer directs her attention: to the work of God.
Mary would not accomplish this mystery through her own strength. The Holy Spirit would act.
This is a lesson we need every day.
We hear Christ calling us to forgive, and we ask, “How can I forgive after what happened?”
We hear Him calling us to repent, and we ask, “How can I change when I have struggled for so long?”
We hear Him calling us to serve, and we ask, “What can I offer? I am already tired.”
Bring those questions to God.
Faith does not require us to pretend that something difficult is easy. Faith brings our difficulty into His presence and asks for His help.
When Moses stood before the burning bush, he felt unable to carry the responsibility God was giving him. God answered:
“I will certainly be with you”
Exodus 3:12
God’s presence was the foundation of Moses’ calling.
And at the Annunciation, the angel assured Mary:
“For with God nothing will be impossible”
Luke 1:37
This does not promise that every outcome we desire will happen. It assures us that God can fulfill His saving purpose beyond what we can imagine or accomplish ourselves.
Perhaps you cannot see the whole road ahead. You can still take the next faithful step.
Make the appointment for confession. Ask forgiveness. Return to prayer. Accept support. Begin again.
The God who calls you also gives grace.
3. Give God your willing “yes.”
Saint Mary answered:
“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word”
Luke 1:38
She did not know every difficulty that lay ahead.
There would be a journey to Bethlehem, flight into Egypt, and, eventually, the terrible sorrow of standing beside the Cross.
Yet she entrusted herself to God.
The church fathers teach us the tenderness of this encounter: God honored the freedom of the Virgin. Her response was willing and personal.
Her obedience was full of trust.
Our “yes” to God will take a different form, but it must also become personal.
For a child, it may mean telling the truth when hiding a mistake feels easier.
For a young person, it may mean asking for help with a struggle they have kept secret.
For a parent, it may mean putting down the phone and listening patiently.
For someone who is angry, it may mean refusing to answer with cruelty.
For someone trapped in sin, it may mean coming to confession and accepting guidance.
We often imagine holiness as something far away, belonging to people whose lives look very different from ours. Yet Saint Mary offered herself to God within an ordinary place, in a life largely hidden from the world.
Our homes can also become places of prayer. Our conversations can carry kindness. Our work can become service.
The Incarnation reveals the dignity of the human body. The Son of God truly became man. Our bodies matter to Him.
Therefore, caring for our health, resting when needed, guarding our eyes and words, and respecting the bodies of others all belong to the Christian life.
We worship God with the lives we actually live—with our minds, our hearts, our hands, and our bodies.
Through baptism and chrismation, we have received a life of grace in the Church. Through repentance, confession, and Holy Communion, we continue to receive Christ’s healing and nourishment.
Let us respond to those gifts with a willing heart.
My beloved,
A feast becomes fruitful when its message enters our daily life.
We remember the Annunciation so that we may receive its good news again: the Son of God became man for our salvation.
We honor Saint Mary by learning from her humility, her faith, and her obedience.
And we leave the church ready to offer God a response.
Here is one practical lesson for this week.
Each morning, before reaching for your phone, pause and pray:
“Lord, help me to receive Your love, trust Your word, and say yes to You today.”
Keep that small commitment faithfully.
Conclusion
When you feel ashamed, remember: God comes close because He loves you.
When you feel uncertain, remember: you can bring Him your questions.
When you feel weak, remember: His grace helps you take the next step.
And with the intercessions of our holy mother, Saint Mary, may we learn to answer:
“Let it be to me according to your word.”
May the Lord bless us and transform us — that our homes may stand on the Rock, our hands may serve in the harvest, and our hearts may long for Heaven. Through the intercession of our Lady, the Theotokos Saint Mary, and the prayers of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew. Glory be to God forever. Amen.
Prepared and presented by Hegumen Fr. Andrew Awad, D.Min.