Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Recently, I've been finding root words so fascinating. Maybe this is the nerdy teacher side of me coming out, but when you look at root words, prefixes, and suffixes, everything just seems to make sense! Take a look at the word "Annunciation"---what's the root word? "Announce"! The Angel Gabriel "announces" to Mary that she will bear the Son of God. Today we celebrate the exact moment when Our Blessed Mother knew her vocation. Living as an ordinary faithful Jewish girl in Palestine, she desired to live a life for the Lord, but did she ever think that this would be her calling?

I like to think of this moment when I pray through and ponder on my own vocation. What is the Lord announcing to me? Sometimes I wish that He would send down fire-bolts of lighting or speak to me through the iconic burning bush, but for now, I'm resigned to the fact that He speaks slowly, in the quiet recesses of my heart. And while He may have spoken loudly to Mary at the moment of the Annunciation, eventually the Angel left and she too was called to listen to the still small voice of the Lord, reassuring her and nudging her forward. 

Lord, help me to open my ears to Your still small voice, announcing to each of us our personal vocation. May I have the same courage and fidelity as Mary to accept that call, letting it be done unto us.
Reflected by Regina Galassi