Friends, in today’s Gospel the angel Gabriel reveals to Mary that she will bear a Son who will reign from David’s throne.
As background, note that God had promised that David’s throne would
last forever, but his line had apparently been broken in 587 BC. Six
hundred years later Gabriel appeared to Mary, who was betrothed to a man
named Joseph of the house of David.
Greeting her as "full of
grace," the angel announced that she will conceive in her womb and bear a
Son. "He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High." Then
comes the kicker that would have taken the breath away from any
first-century Jew listening to the story: "And the Lord God will give
him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of
Jacob forever, and of his
Kingdom there will be no end."
What seemed to have come to an
end had in fact just gone underground, and was now ready to appear fully
in the light. The kingly line of David was in fact unsevered, and now
the full meaning of God’s promise would be revealed.
Reflect: What is revealed here about God’s timing and his promises?
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Lectionary: 545
The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
“I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us!”
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said 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.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“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.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
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