Daily Reflection – 12/8/2025
Sacred Scripture
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.( Luke 1:26-38)
Reflection
In the quiet town of Nazareth, a young woman named Mary receives a visit that will alter the course of human history. The angel Gabriel’s appearance to Mary, as told in Luke 1:26-38, is a story that invites us to move from who we think we are to what God calls us to be. It challenges us to journey from being simply an observant believer to becoming a confessing apostle of divine truth.
This encounter does more than just transform Mary; it demands that we acknowledge a profound transformation in God’s relationship with humanity. It is no small journey to shift our perception from an all-powerful God in heaven to God in a manger—vulnerable, helpless, and completely dependent. The Annunciation is the moment this divine thread is woven into the fabric of human life, forever changing it. Every womb and every tomb is touched by this sacred intersection of the divine and the human. The content of Gabriel’s visit gives meaning to everything in Jesus’ life, everything he does, and everything he is.
Mary’s faith and purity of heart made her receptive to God’s truth. She accepted the angel’s message and all its life-altering implications. Her plans were radically and completely changed in an instant. She was able to embrace this unforeseen future because she had already internalized a core doctrine that we too often forget, a truth Gabriel reminded her of: “Nothing is impossible for God.” This simple, powerful statement gave her the courage to proceed into the unknown.
From Mary, we can learn life’s greatest lesson: how to say yes to God. Her simple, yet profound, “yes” reversed the effects of Eve’s “no” in the garden. Her consent paved the way for Christ to enter the world and begin the work of undoing Adam’s fall. In the same way, God disrupts our own lives. He asks us to say “yes.” He speaks through the voice of our conscience, the daily responsibilities of our vocation, and the teachings of our faith. When we respond with a “yes,” we echo Mary’s fiat and make more room for Christ in our world. But when we answer with a “no,” or even a hesitant “maybe,” we risk shutting him out.
That “yes” is to put God first in the way He lives in our lives. It is a willingness to so trust Him that we say “yes” to having Him lead us down His path. That “yes” says that we trust Him in all things, knowing that when we do, His love, care and protection will provide for our well being and those whom we love.
God is calling each of us. His invitation to be one with Him patiently waits for a response from our hearts. Do we choose Him as an active part of our daily lives? Do we trust Him, love Him, and share Him with others as He gave His Son to us?
Prayer of The Day
“Heavenly Father, Help me to live a grace-filled life as Mary did by believing in your promises and by giving you my unqualified “yes” to your will and plan for my life.”
Daily Note
With the Annunciation God promises to interrupt our lives. Hidden within every womb and every tomb is Gabriel’s announcement, “Greetings favored one! The Lord is with you” (Lk. 1:28). Gabriel’s words echo in our wombs and in our tombs interrupting our lives with Life. That’s the necessary interruption. That’s the interruption we yearn for. That’s the interruption we seek and for which we are desperate. That’s the interruption we so need in our daily lives. He is with us. He asks only that we share His love in the conduct of our lives. He asks only that we become Followers of His Way.
