THE ANNUNCIATION

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Today, March 25th is the feast of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38).

The Annunciation was the beginning of a vast and wonderful repair work to be done by God on the destruction caused by Adam and Eve. A woman caused the downfall of the human race; a woman will raise man back to God. A devil approached Eve; an angel appeared to Mary.  The devil tempted Eve to disobey and cast down the human race; an angel appeared to Mary to receive her obedience and raise up the human race.  The devil urged infidelity; the angel fidelity to God's will. The first woman believed the tempter; Mary believed her Maker. Eve brought destruction; Mary salvation.


Mary was deserving to receive God the Son physically in her womb because she has first received Him spiritually in her heart.


- St. Peter Chrysologus


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- Excerpted from St. Peter Chrysologus Sermo. 140 on Luke 1:26-29.
Source:  Winnowing Fan, Vol. XI, No. 1, January 1994


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