Thursday, March 25, 2021
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God send angel Gabriel go one town for Galilee wey dem dey call Nazareth, go meet one virgin wey dem don betroth to one man wey im name na Joseph, from di house of David. Di virgin name na Mary. As di angel come meet her, e talk say, “Hail, you wey grace full! Di Lord dey with you.” Luke 1:26–28
Just imagine say Angel Gabriel, the glorious Archangel wey dey stand before the Most Holy Trinity, come meet you and announce to you say you “full of grace” and say “The Lord dey with you.” Na experience wey words no fit describe, wey go fill you with wonder and deep reverence! Yet, na exactly wetin happen to this young girl wey still dey her teenage years, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Today, we dey celebrate this wonderful thing wey happen, wey mark the moment when God take human flesh inside her blessed womb. Remember say today na nine months before Christmas. The Church give us this Solemnity today to invite us make we follow Mary waka through these nine months wey dey come, so that we go join her rejoice over the birth of her divine Son.
Plenty things dey wey we fit talk about this glorious Solemnity. We fit think deeply about Mother Mary and her Immaculate Conception. We fit think deeply about the very words wey the Archangel talk. We fit think deeply about the mystery wey surround her pregnancy and the way wey God choose to begin this gift. And plenty more things still dey wey we fit think deeply about. Even though all these things deserve make we think deeply and pray about them well, make we focus on how this young woman respond to the announcement wey the angel bring.
First, we read say Mary “worry well-well” and “think deeply about” these words wey the Archangel talk. The way she worry show say Mary no fully understand wetin the Archangel dey reveal. But as she think deeply about the words, e also show say she dey open to understand more fully. Then she ask for the gift to know more deeply when she ask, “How this one fit happen, since I no get sexual relationship with any man?” This answer first show say she accept and believe with faith, before she ask to understand this revelation more deeply. Faith na the ability to accept wetin we no fully understand, but true faith always dey seek deeper understanding—and na wetin Mary do be this.
After the Archangel reveal more things to her, Mary fully accept wetin e reveal and trust say wetin dem tell her na all wey she need to know for that time. Then she give the answer wey people don come to know as her “fiat.” She talk say, “See, I be the Lord handmaid. Make e happen to me according to your word.” This fiat of Mary na her perfect prayer to surrender herself to wetin God want, and na also the perfect example of how all of us must respond to wetin God want. We must see ourselves as true servants wey dey do wetin He want, and we must fully accept anything wey God ask us to do, so that wetin we want go join completely with wetin He want.
Today, think deeply about these words of our Blessed Mother: “See, I be the Lord handmaid. Make e happen to me according to your word.” How God dey ask you make this prayer become your own prayer too? How God dey call you to serve wetin He want, wey holy pass all? You ready to fully accept anything and everything wey God ask of you? As you dey pray and think deeply about this fiat of our Blessed Mother, try make your own answer join with her own, so that you too go be servant of the Most High God.
Father for Heaven, You send Your Son make He take human flesh inside the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Your glorious Archangel Gabriel bring this Good News. Make I always pay attention to the messages wey You send to me as You dey invite me to join Your divine mission to bring Your Son into the world. My dear Lord, today I talk “Yes” to serve wetin You want, wey holy pass all. Jesus, na You I trust.
More Reflections on the Gospel
Reflection Dem about God im Mercy
Scripture Meditation Dem for Lent
Read More – The Announcement of the Lord
The picture wey dey above: The Announcement Na Benvenuto Tisi paint am
