It is 25th March 2019. We celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The readings are from Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10; the second reading is from Hebrews 10:4-10; and the Gospel from Luke 1:26-38. When God’s plan is my plan of life, the entire humanity is blessed. The affirmative statement of Mary offered hope and redemption to the entire humanity. The Catechism undoubtedly proclaims in CCC 484 “The Annunciation to Mary inaugurates “the fullness of time”, the time of the fulfilment of God’s promises and preparations. Mary was invited to conceive him in whom the “whole fullness of deity” would dwell “bodily”. The divine response to her question, “How can this be, since I know not man?”, was given by the power of the Spirit: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” The offer made by God to Mary through St. Gabriel the Archangel and Her fiat (be it done) and nodding to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to bring about the plan of God by her conversation of humility that still offers us to accept the plan of God for us all. By her very fiat, she becomes not only the Mother of God and Mother of us all. The consent she gave to God in the redemptive work of Her only Son Jesus still continues in our personal conversion. Whenever during the session of Lent, we begin to cooperate with God, we too willingly allowing God’s plan and will be done in our lives. It is not that easy to accept the plan of God at times yet our faith and humility can help us to achieve it. The prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading is fulfilled by the humble acceptance God’s offer for humanity through Ever Virgin Mary. “Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel, which means for ‘God is with us.” (Is.7:10). The responsorial Psalm affirms, “Here, I am, Lord; I come to do your will.” (Ps.40:8,9). God waits for our personal and intimate sacrifice of our body much more than any other sacrifices. “By this will, we have been consecrated through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb.10:10). We are saved by the sacrifices made by Jesus by offering Himself on the Cross for us all. The Gospel passage is the description of the Annunciation of the Lord to Mary by the visit of the Archangel Gabriel. We all need to emulate the example of Mary in our lives. Let our yes be yes. Let us try avoiding by all means the contradictions and confusions we normally have in saying one thing and doing the exactly the opposite always. As we celebrate the unfathomable faith of Mary, we shall strengthen our faith by the consistent and affirmative life we lead daily. Lent is the time to say ‘yes’ to God and ‘no’ to Satan and its pleasurable games. May we honour God by honouring our promises we made privately and publicly in front of God and the Church as well in our families. May you have a good day. God bless you.