Feast of the Annunciation

Today's slice of Daily Bread is provided by Br. John Kachinsky, counselor and chair of the Vocation Committee at Central Catholic High School. May his challenging insight help us appreciate and celebrate this feast with greater depth.

It is striking that we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation with its Advent resonance in the midst of our Lenten fasting. However, if we reflect upon the Gospel account of Jesus spending forty days in the desert to discern what God desired of him, it is quite similar to Mary’s encounter with the angel in today’s Gospel reading.

Like Mary and Jesus we are also called to discern what God desires of us. How do we do this? We keep in mind the angel’s assurance to Mary, “Do not be afraid.” Then we go to the very places that scare us. We discover what we are truly afraid of and look for God’s presence there. These places contain our dark gifts with all of their untapped potential. In reality, they are not dangerous at all; we are simply alienated from them. They may be those unloved or ignored aspects of our own selves; they may also be those fractured and wounded relationships with friends, with family members, with our Church, or with our God. In all of these places, the Resurrected Christ is present and invites us to healing, transformation, and new life.

The real danger in the spiritual life is remaining in our comfort zone and not moving into the desert. The status quo ultimately equals death. Those places that seem safe, familiar and routine are probably not safe at all, especially if they prevent us from growing. So let us step out into our own desert each day with the realization that this desert is really an untapped oasis at the very core of our being that will redeem us if we allow it to do so. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 30, 38)

Br. John C. Kachinsky, FMS