In today’s Mass reading, we hear the story of the prophetess Anna, who, in her old age, regularly went to the temple and “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.” In a similar way, the Annunciation is a moment unparalleled in human history — God’s message of salvation delivered by an angel to a humble young woman, inviting her to participate in the greatest mystery of all time: the Incarnation of the Word. St. Thomas Aquinas, with his typical unrivaled genius, offers us a way to meditate on its theological depth and its practical significance for our lives.
The angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary — “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you” — was unlike any salutation ever heard. St. Thomas notes that this greeting was designed to draw Mary’s attention to the magnitude of what was about to be revealed: the divine mystery of the Incarnation. Mary, steeped in the Law and the prophets, would have recognized the strangeness of these words. Her astonishment was not born of confusion, but of deep humility and readiness to discern the voice of God.
The angel’s message unfolds in three movements, as St. Thomas observes: he announces Mary’s worthiness, reveals the mystery of the Incarnation, and invites her consent. Each step reveals something essential about how God acts in our lives.
The three movements
The greeting: Gabriel’s words affirm Mary’s unique role in salvation history: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” This was not a casual greeting, but an affirmation from heaven of her worthiness to follow God’s will. Mary stands before us as the new Eve, the one who is entirely receptive to grace. This greeting invites us to reflect on our own openness to grace. Do we recognize that God is with us, even in the ordinary moments of life? Do we allow His grace to fill our hearts, shaping us into vessels of His love?
The mystery revealed: Gabriel then unveils the heart of the mystery: “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” The child to be born is not an ordinary child; He is the Son of the Most High, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. This revelation reminds us of the wonder of the Incarnation — that God became man to redeem us. It is a call to awe, a call to worship. How often do we pause to marvel at the reality that the Creator of the universe chose to dwell among us in such humility?
The choice: Finally, Gabriel invites Mary’s free response. He assures her of God’s power — “For nothing will be impossible with God.” In this moment, heaven holds its breath. Mary’s humble fiat — “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” — unleashes the floodgates of grace. God does not impose His will. Instead, He invites our participation in His plan of love. This mystery of divine respect for human freedom challenges us to ask: How do we respond when God invites us to something beyond our understanding? Do we trust His power and His goodness?
Let us pray,
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that the newness of the Nativity in the flesh of your Only Begotten Son may set us free, for ancient servitude holds us bound beneath the yoke of sin. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
