The Story of the Annunciation (7-9)

Lots of things happen every day in the world. But as you know, only important things are announced. You know what some of these things are. There is one event that stands above all others because it was so important. It was announced to just one person--a very young woman. She wasn't a queen, or the daughter of a rich family. But what the angel Gabriel announced to Mary, this young woman, was the most important thing ever announced. Our Church calls it "the beginning of our salvation."

Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ when He was born as a man to save us. Mary was surprised and puzzled by this announcement. Though she was engaged to marry an older man named Joseph, they were not married yet. So Mary spoke up with courage and asked the angel, "How can this be? I have never been with a man." Gabriel is God's own messenger. He told Mary how this wonderful thing would happen. He said that the child born to Mary would be the Son of God. The birth would be a miracle that God would bring about by His great power.

Mary knew that the angel Gabriel was asking her to do something that would surprise other people as much as the announcement had surprised her. What would people say when a young woman who was not married had a baby? How would Joseph feel about it? What would the future of this child be--the Son of God Himself! All of these questions did not stop Mary from making the choice to do what God was asking her to do. She could have said "no" to God's plan, but she said "yes." She told Gabriel, "Let it be to me according to your word" which means, "Let it be as you have said it will be." Because Mary said "yes" to God's plan, Jesus Christ would be born to live among us and save the world. That's why the Church calls this Feast of the Annunciation "the beginning of our salvation." We are grateful to Mary for her "yes" to God's plan so that His Son could come to be our Savior.