Fr. Scott A. Haynes
Meditation on the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when the Angel Gabriel was sent by God to announce to Mary that she would conceive the Son of God, is one of the most profound and significant moments in the history of salvation. This event, recounted in the Gospel of Luke, marks the beginning of the fulfillment of God’s plan for the redemption of humanity. It is a moment of divine condescension and humility, where the Creator of the Universe asks for the cooperation of a humble maiden from Nazareth to bring His Son into the world. This meditation will explore the rich theological implications of the Annunciation, drawing upon the wisdom of the early Church Fathers to deepen our understanding of this sacred mystery.
The Context of the Annunciation: God's Plan of Redemption
The Annunciation, found in Luke 1:26–38, occurs at a pivotal moment in God’s plan of salvation. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary in the city of Nazareth, bringing a message that would change the course of human history. The Gospel passage reads:
"And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." (Luke 1:26–28)
Here, the angel’s salutation is one of immense significance. "Hail, full of grace," is not merely a greeting, but a recognition of the fullness of grace bestowed upon Mary by God. She is described as "full of grace," which has been interpreted by the Church Fathers and later theologians as indicating her Immaculate Conception, a doctrine that holds that Mary was conceived without original sin in order to be a pure vessel for the Incarnation of the Word. This fullness of grace would be a constant in Mary's life, allowing her to live in perfect harmony with God's will.
The early Church Fathers often meditated on this verse to highlight the unique role of Mary in God's plan. St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130–202 AD), for instance, emphasized that Mary, by her obedience, became the "New Eve," the one who would reverse the disobedience of the first woman. St. Irenaeus writes:
"As the human race was subjected to death by a woman, it was through a woman that it was rescued from death. In the same way, the Virgin Mary, being obedient, became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race." (Against Heresies, Book III, Chapter 22)
This profound reflection on Mary’s role in salvation history shows how she, by freely consenting to God’s plan, became the instrument through which the Word would be made flesh.
The Mystery of the Incarnation
The heart of the Annunciation is the message Gabriel delivers to Mary: she will conceive a son, who will be the Son of the Most High, and his kingdom will have no end. Gabriel’s words echo the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14, which foretold that the Virgin would conceive and bear a son, called Immanuel, meaning "God with us."
"The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee; and therefore also the holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (Luke 1:35)
In this moment, the eternal Word of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, takes on human nature. This is the Incarnation: the divine becoming human. It is a mystery that surpasses human understanding but is central to Christian faith. In the words of St. John Chrysostom (c. 349–407 AD), one of the great early Church Fathers:
"The Word was made flesh not by change, but by the taking of a true and complete human nature, without sin. In this way, He was both God and man. Thus, the union of the divine and the human is a perfect and complete union, and this is the mystery of the Incarnation." (Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 12)
This union of the divine and human in the person of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christian theology. The Church Fathers, from St. Athanasius (c. 296–373 AD) to St. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444 AD), wrote extensively on this mystery, emphasizing that the Word of God took on human nature in order to save humanity from sin and death. The Annunciation is the moment when this great mystery is revealed, when the eternal God makes His entrance into the temporal world.
Mary's Consent: The Fiat
When Gabriel announces the mystery of the Incarnation, Mary responds with faith and humility. Her response, often referred to as her "fiat" (Latin for "Let it be done"), is one of profound consent to God’s will:
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38)
In her fiat, Mary demonstrates perfect submission to God’s will. Her willingness to accept the divine will, despite the uncertainty and the great cost involved, is an act of supreme faith. She does not fully understand how this will happen, but she trusts completely in God's plan. Her fiat is a model of how every Christian is called to respond to God's will in their lives.
St. Ambrose (c. 340–397 AD), one of the great doctors of the Church, reflects on Mary’s "yes" to God, noting the significance of her consent in the context of salvation:
"By her obedience, she undid the knot of disobedience which the virgin Eve had tied. She bore the One who would destroy sin and death. Thus, she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race." (Exameron, Book VI)
In her response, Mary shows the way for all believers. Her obedience is not passive but active. She participates in God’s plan for salvation with her free will, demonstrating that true submission to God’s will is always a cooperative act.
The Role of the Holy Spirit
A key element of the Annunciation is the role of the Holy Spirit in the conception of Jesus. Gabriel explains to Mary that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and overshadow her, making it possible for her to conceive the Son of God. This moment of overshadowing by the Holy Spirit is often seen as the fulfillment of the promise made by God in the Old Testament to send His Spirit to dwell among His people.
The early Church Fathers, particularly St. Irenaeus and St. Athanasius, saw the work of the Holy Spirit in the Annunciation as vital to the sanctification of Mary and the perfect union of the divine and human in the person of Jesus. St. Athanasius writes:
"The Spirit who descended upon the Virgin Mary and overshadowed her is the same Spirit who sanctifies the whole creation. In this way, the Holy Spirit purified Mary, making her the worthy vessel to bear the eternal Word." (On the Incarnation, Chapter 7)
This overshadowing of the Holy Spirit is a central part of the mystery of the Annunciation. The Holy Spirit not only sanctifies Mary but also prepares her to bear Christ, the God-man, in her womb. Through this divine action, the Virgin Mary is made a pure and holy vessel to bring forth the Savior of the world.
Theological Significance of the Annunciation
Theologically, the Annunciation is a moment of profound mystery, revealing key truths about God’s plan of salvation. The incarnation of the Word in the womb of the Virgin Mary fulfills God's promise to redeem humanity. It demonstrates the humility of God, who chooses to enter the world in a manner that is both humble and profound. The fact that God becomes incarnate in the womb of a woman highlights the dignity of human nature and the sanctity of human life.
The Annunciation also points to the unity of God’s plan of salvation. In Mary's fiat, the first "yes" to God’s plan, she becomes the instrument through which salvation enters the world. Her acceptance of God’s will is a model for all Christians. St. Augustine (354–430 AD), in his reflections on the Annunciation, notes:
"The Virgin Mary became the means through which the Word of God, who existed from all eternity, took on flesh. In this way, the Word, by becoming flesh, was made known to the world through her." (Sermons, 72)