On the 25th of March,in the Universal Church (Catholic Church), we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord. What does this celebration bring to mind, and what does it mean?
This celebration carries many important messages for us as Christians. First, it serves as the Church’s way of reminding us of how God revealed the Good News—the fulfillment of His promise of salvation for humanity. It highlights the long-awaited promise of redemption and how this divine plan began to unfold through a simple but powerful message delivered to a young girl by an angel.
The Angel Gabriel announced the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and this divine announcement is what gives the feast its name, the Annunciation. It marks the moment when God’s promise of salvation began to take visible form in human history.
To better understand the depth and background of this celebration, it is helpful to reflect on the Mass readings for the day, as they provide the biblical foundation and spiritual context of this great event.
First reading
| Isaiah 7:10-14,8:10 |
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The maiden is with child
The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’
Then Isaiah said:
‘Listen now, House of David: are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men without trying the patience of my God, too?
The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign.
It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel, a name which means “God-is-with-us.”’
| Second reading | Hebrews 10:4-10 |
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God’s will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.
Bulls’ blood and goats’ blood are useless for taking away sins, and this is what Christ said, on coming into the world:
You who wanted no sacrifice or oblation, prepared a body for me.
You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin;
then I said, just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book,
‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.’
Notice that he says first: You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the oblations, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin, and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.
| Gospel | Luke 1:26-38 |
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‘I am the handmaid of the Lord’
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.
The Message of the Feast of the Annunciation
The First Reading speaks about a sign—a sign that God presented to Ahaz. This sign, which was promised in the First Reading, finds its fulfillment in the Gospel. Ahaz was promised a salvation like no other, and in the Gospel, we see that promise coming to life through the Annunciation of our Lord.
The Second Reading gives us deeper insight into this salvation. It explains that true salvation cannot be obtained through the sacrifice of animals or ritual offerings. Instead, it is a salvation freely and willingly offered by Jesus Christ, who said:
“Here I am! I am coming to obey your will.”
In every sense, the Feast of the Annunciation is a celebration of humanity’s salvation—won once and for all through Christ. This is why it remains one of the most important feasts in the life of the Church.
Mary’s Response: A Model of Willingness and Submission
Another powerful highlight of today’s readings is Mary’s response:
“I am the handmaid of the Lord; let what you have said be done to me.”
This response reflects total willingness and complete submission to the will of God. Mary did not argue, hesitate, or resist; she simply trusted and accepted God’s plan.
We also see in today’s Gospel that when God decides to act, everything falls into place. Even Elizabeth, an old and barren woman, becomes pregnant. This shows that God prepares every detail in advance. John the Baptist’s coming was already being arranged as part of the great story of salvation.
At this point, we must ask ourselves some important questions:
- Are we aligning with the will of God?
- Are we part of the salvation story of humanity?
- Are we afraid that we do not have what it takes to participate in God’s divine plan?
- Are we hesitant to say “yes” to God?
Let us remember the powerful words of the angel:
“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Your transformation is possible. Your calling is possible. Your mission is possible—if only you are willing to say “Yes” to God.
The Central Message: The Work of the Holy Spirit
However, the message that stands out most in today’s Gospel is the angel’s statement:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”
This statement reveals the central role of the Holy Spirit in God’s work.
From the beginning of creation, the Holy Spirit has always been active in human history. In the creation story, the Spirit of God moved over the waters. Throughout the Bible, we see the Spirit working through great men and women of God.
For example:
- Samson was empowered by the Spirit
- Daniel was guided by divine wisdom
- David was strengthened by the Spirit
- Jesus and the Apostles were led by the Spirit
This clearly shows that the Holy Spirit is the activating force behind God’s work. The Spirit is the invisible but powerful presence that drives the events orchestrated by God—not only in the Bible but also in our lives today.
Jesus Recommends the Holy Spirit to Us
Interestingly, Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of the Holy Spirit in Luke 11.
After teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus encouraged them to ask God for what they truly need. Then He made a profound statement:
“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”
Here, Jesus directly challenges us to ask for the Holy Spirit.
Jesus did not focus on material things or temporary blessings. Instead, He directed our attention to what is most essential for life—the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit: Our Helper and Advocate
Before leaving the apostles, Jesus also promised them a helper. In John 14:16–17, He said:
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.”
The Holy Spirit was given to:
- guide them,
- strengthen them,
- comfort them,
- and empower them for ministry.
This shows that no one can effectively do God’s work without the Holy Spirit.
What Should We Truly Ask From God?
Whenever we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation—and indeed many other Church feasts—we should look beyond material needs and focus on spiritual growth.
As Jesus reminds us in John 6:63:
“It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh has nothing to offer.”
So the real question becomes:
What do we truly need from God?
How does God carry out His work on earth?
How did the servants of God succeed in their mission?
The answer is clear in the angel’s message:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you.”
This should also be our prayer.
Like David in Psalm 51, we should pray:
“Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me.”
When we pray, we must ask for the right things—things that will allow God’s will to be fulfilled in our lives.
Because when God’s will is fulfilled in our lives, God’s glory is revealed through our lives.
And as Jesus taught us to pray:
“May Your Kingdom come.” Remember that the Angel’s message was the announcement of God’s Kingdom on Earth. Jesus came to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. Every time we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation, we are pronouncing that May God’s Kingdom be fully established in our lives!
Peace – Shalom!
Concluding Parts: The Feast of the Annunciation: A Celebration of Humanity’s Salvation