Holy
Rosary Month - Day 8: Joyful Mysteries 1
The
Annunciation: In
the first joyful mystery we meditate on the angel
Gabriel’s annunciation.
The message of the angel to Mary is known as the annunciation, because the
angel announced the birth of Jesus. The fulfillment of the messianic prophecy
is close at hand. The salvific journey of God’s preparation of the people of
God is coming to an end. It is quite different from the remote messianic
prophecy in Gen 3:15 (“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and
between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike
at his heel.”) and the proximate messianic prophecy in Is 7:14 (“The
virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”)
Now the prophecy to the Israelites i.e. messianic prophecy to humankind is
going to be realized right now. Therefore, the angel’s annunciation is not only
to Mary but also to each one of us. We share in the joy of Mary in this holy
mystery. Mary herself in her magnificat acknowledges that what she has
received now is according to the promise of God to Israel, “He has helped
Israel his servant remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our
fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” (Lk 1:54, 55)
This mystery also gives each one of us both an
opportunity to rejoice in the Lord and to take up a mission in the Lord. What
is that mission? It is the task to be filled with the grace of God. Mary was
saluted by angel Gabriel with the title “full of grace” and made known to her
that she had been chosen to be mother of our Savior Jesus. That means, unless
and until we are filled with grace we will not be able to proclaim, or give
witness to Jesus. Remember what we are taught in our early catechism classes;
in order to receive Holy Communion we have to be in state of grace. However, this
task makes us double happy that we are also called to be instruments in the
hands of the Lord today like Mary, mother of Jesus. But are we ready to respond
to God’s message like Mary did; “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it
done to me according to your word.” (Lk 1:38)
Prayer:
Oh Mary, mother
of Jesus! We come to you for your maternal help and protection. Mary our mother
and guide, help us to understand the meaning of being obedient and thankful to
God in our daily life. In this holy mystery we specially pray for those who have
joyously responded to the call of the Lord but find difficulty in fulfilling
the duties entrusted to it faithfully. Let them be filled with the real spirit
of discipleship through the intercession of holy Mary, and ‘return to the first
Love.’ (Rev 2:5) Amen!
Greetings:
Wish you all a nice and blissful Marian Wednesday!
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