Today is the Feast of the Annunciation, that day in which we celebrate the Angel Gabriel proclaiming to St. Mary that she would be the "Theotokos," the God bearer, the Mother of God, and that her Son would be Savior of all fallen man. We read on this day Luke 1:26-38 which says, "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵ And the angel answered her, “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. ³⁶ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her."  

9 Months from now we will be celebrating the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord, Christmas Day. During this time of uncertainty in our society, what better way to calm our minds and nourish our soul than to meditate on the Certain Will of God to save us in Jesus Christ our Lord. It is the Will of the Father that Jesus be conceived in the womb of St. Mary for us, be born for us in Bethlehem, live perfectly under the Law for us, Be baptized in the Jordan by John for us, suffer under Pontius Pilate for us, die on the cross for us, rise from the grave for us, and now sit at the Right Hand of God for us to forgive us and sustain us on the way through the strife of this life unto the joys of heaven immortal. May the Holy Spirit comfort us this Annunciation Day, knowing that Jesus is He Who reigns for us, to forgive us, save us, and deliver us to Himself into the eternal dwellings. 

May the Holy Spirit grant us faith this day, the same faith as St. Mary, that received joy and comfort in the Word of God alone. May that Word assure us each day that we are loved and defended till our life's end that we may enjoy the life that is to come.

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you may hear only the peaceful voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I love you. I forgive you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog