Annunciation

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Mary’s fiat was an essential starting point in fulfilling the new covenant promise, in the fullness of time when God was to become one of us, fulfilling the new covenant in faith, hope and love, all ingrained with mercy and forgiveness.

The Word was to become flesh as a baby — a child making his dwelling among us, which we celebrate heartily and festively this time of year. Given a mission by the angel Gabriel, our Blessed Mother embraced her call to vocation. Mary and St. Joseph were blessed, unsurpassed pilgrims of pro-life.

The prophet Jeremiah stated, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I dedicated you.” Gabriel addressed Mary as “Hail, full of grace.” The angel announced the title as her name, not something that is about to happen to her as a result of the angel’s message. Rather, it was an action completed in the past, with effects that continue in the present, to carry out God’s plan, his dynasty. As it was with Jeremiah, a prophet of old, it was with Mary and Joseph of the new covenant: God, in his omniscience, always knew. Which is why we must — until Jesus calls us home —promote and protect life in our earthly pilgrimage.

Prayers and prayer vigils for the unborn and for the safety of pilgrims to pro-life activities is our devotion of focus as Catholic Watchmen in Christmastide and the month of January. In reality, promoting and defending life from conception until natural death truly merits prayer and action all year round. Hence, this battle in the fight for life and for those brave souls who put themselves in harm’s way defending life must get our endless attention. As we celebrate Christmas and launch into a new year, we pray that the culture of death that surrounds us today be replaced with a culture of life, promoting the dignity of the human person in all stages of life.

We can ensure this pilgrimage for life message is entrenched in our own homes where our loved ones preside. In a book I use for blessing a home, one prayer starts out with the beautiful mystery of the Incarnation: “When Christ took flesh through the blessed virgin Mary, he made his home with us. Let us now pray that he will enter this home and bless it with his presence. May he always be here among you; may he nurture your love for each other, sharing your joys, comfort you in your sorrows. Inspired by his teachings and example, seek to make your home before all else, a dwelling place of love, diffusing far and wide the goodness of Christ.”

This blessing, as is the passage of the Annunciation (Mary’s “yes”), is about Jesus, who will be born, the awaited Messiah from David’s dynastic line. The Messiah would reunite the house of God with the people of Israel. The angel Gabriel announces that Jesus is this anointed ruler who will re-gather the tribes of Israel, together with all nations, into his glorious kingdom. The Blessed Mother and St. Joseph answered their call to vocation, and they indeed are models of the epitome of pilgrims on a pro-life journey. Together, they brought our Lord and Savior into the world as a child, and represented the first, holy domestic Church as a household for the Son of God.

In this Christmas season, bless your home if it’s been a while. And bless often the lives of those living in your home throughout all the seasons. Our home is the primary starting point from which our Christian pilgrimage in life starts out each day. Hence, our main base and our bodies in which we tread need regular spiritual blessings for holiness and strength! Sure, you can ask clergy to confer certain blessings, but you can also take initiative of your own three-fold anointing given at your baptism — priest, prophet and king. As brothers and sisters of Christ, use that priestly duty to bestow blessings on your family members regularly and fervently. Be blessed pilgrims for Christ, for the author of life wherever you tread.

Deacon Bird ministers at St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville, and assists with the archdiocese’s Catholic Watchmen movement. Learn more about the Catholic Watchmen at archspm.org/faith-communities/men.