Feast of the Annunciation.

Feast of the Annunciation.

MASS AT CHAPEL OF ANNUNCIATION IN HOLY LAND.

The feast of the Annunciation is on 25th March and it inevitably falls in Lent.  This marks the day when Mary, as described in the Gospel of St Luke, was told by an angel that she was to be the mother of the Saviour. This is the day of the Incarnation, when Christ, the Son of God, arrived in his mother's womb.

Interestingly enough, the old English name for this day is "Lady's Day" and for centuries it was marked as the first day of the New Year: due to the fact the tax year ran from March to March each year.   Of course, the Annunciation is exactly nine months before Christmas, signifying the time spend by Christ in the womb of Mary. On a practical note, for those of us who had promised ourselves we were going to be organized for Christmas next year, why not connect this feast with a start of a Christmas shopping list.!!!! Shock horror, some might think of Christmas-when we have not yet celebrated Easter.

Nevertheless, reflecting on this feast and connecting it with Christmas, may provide a fresh impetus. 

An old tradition says that the first Good Friday was also on 25th March, and so Christ was dying on the anniversary of the day on which he first arrived on earth.

God does not need his creatures because He is God.  Yet, he desired Mary's yes and our yes to make His plan complete. 

Will we be willing to say Yes to God like Mary in what He asks of us?