Today's Gospel, Luke 1: 26-38, presents the Annunciation: The Angel Gabriel was sent by God to visit Mary. He greets her, saying: "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." She is greatly troubled and the angel says 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." How, Mary asks. I have not had a sexual relationship with a man! And the angel responds: "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."
WOW! Imagine going about your morning's work and you are interrupted by an angel greeting you as he did Mary. No doubt, like Mary, you would be very troubled by such a visitation, in the first place, and, secondly, by the angel's greeting. But do you realize that, by virtue of your baptism, first Communion, and subsequent Communions, and your service of sacrificial love for your spouse, your children, your grandchildren and others you encounter and serve, the Lord is truly with you, that you are full of grace, as Mary was, and that by your life you, too, give birth to Jesus, make Jesus real for others! And, in turn, others bring Jesus to you, give birth to Jesus in you, by their love, forgiveness, compassion, understanding and support. "Angels" clothed in humanity visit you and communicate with you every day!
May your eyes be opened to the presence of "angels" in our midst and of God at work around us and through us every day!
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