Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Luke 1:26-38
“Let it be done to me according to your word.”
Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.
And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women.”
And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be.
And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God. Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS.
He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity. And his kingdom shall have no end.”
Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?”
And in response, the Angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God.
And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren. For no word will be impossible with God.”
Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the Angel departed from her.
What do the Fathers say?
The Venerable BEDE explains that the Annunciation (Christ’s conception) occurred in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist, either because the Incarnation belonged to the sixth age of the world or because Christ came to fulfill the Law. He notes that the conception is traditionally dated to March 25th and the birth to December 25th. These dates are connected to the increase of light following the equinox and solstice, symbolizing Christ as the one “Who lightens every man that comes into the world.” If anyone argues that the light begins to increase before these dates, He counters that this earlier growth of light symbolizes John the Baptist who preached repentance just before Christ arrived.
St. BASIL the Great teaches that heavenly spirits (angels) do not visit people whenever they feel like it. Instead, they visit us only when it helps us or serves a purpose for our benefit. This is because angels are constantly focused on the glory and wisdom of God. Therefore, the Angel Gabriel was sent to Mary not by chance, but at the exact moment and for the specific reason that was best for humanity’s advantage.
St. AUGUSTINE explains that the angel was sent to a virgin because Christ had to be born from virginity alone; His birth was so unique that nothing else could equal it.
It was necessary for Jesus, who is our Head, to be born physically from a virgin through this great miracle. This was done to symbolize that His followers would later be born spiritually from a virgin Church (i.e. a Church pure and fully devoted to God).
PSEUDO-JEROME. The author explains that Mary is rightly called “Full of Grace” because while others receive God’s grace only in small amounts, Mary was instantly and completely filled with it. She is the channel through which the abundant rain of the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon the whole world. The Lord, who dwells everywhere and cannot be limited by a place, was already with the Virgin Mary even before He sent the angel to her. That is why the angel says, “The Lord is with thee.”
PSEUDO-AUGUSTINE.The author explains that when the angel says “The Lord is with thee,” it means Christ is with Mary in a way that is greater than anyone else. This is because Christ is present in her heart, made present in her womb, fills her soul, and fills her womb.
The Greek Expositor GEOMETER summarizes the angel’s message by saying that the Word of God (Jesus) is like a Bridegroom making a mystery union (the Incarnation). He is both the one planting and the one being planted, completely shaping the nature of humanity into Himself.The angel’s final greeting, “Blessed art thou among women,” is the most perfect message: Mary is alone and far above all other women.Just as men are blessed through her Son, women are blessed through Mary. Ultimately, all people are blessed through both of them.
The message means that just as sin and sorrow came into the world through one man and one woman (Adam and Eve), now blessing and joy have been restored and poured out on everyone through one woman (Mary) and one man (Christ).
He notes that the Evangelist (Luke) ascribes Mary’s agitation not to the angel’s appearance itself, but to the words spoken by him. This reaction showed both her modesty and wisdom: she did not immediately comply too easily as Eve did, nor did she openly resist the message out of doubt as Zachariah did. Instead, Mary thoughtfully questioned the meaning of the greeting, wondering if the salutation was inappropriate, as from a man to a virgin or if it was truly from God, since the angel invoked the Lord’s name; “the Lord is with thee.”
The Venerable BEDE explains that the angel told Mary about the pregnancy of her elderly, barren relative, Elizabeth, so that Mary would not despair or doubt her own ability to bear a son.By giving Mary the example of an old, childless woman about to give birth, the angel showed her that all things are possible with God—even things that seem completely unnatural or impossible.This leads directly to the angel’s key statement: “For there shall be no word (or thing) impossible with God.”
St. John Chrysostom affirms that the Lord of nature can do absolutely anything He desires, because He controls and arranges everything in existence, holding complete authority over both life and death.
St AMBROSE. Behold now the humility, the devotion of the virgin. She calls herself His handmaid, who is chosen to be His mother, so far was she from being exalted by the sudden promise.