The Annunciation marks the beginning of the Good News

In his general audience of December 19, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI gave this commentary on the Annunciation:

“Today, I wish to ponder briefly with you on Mary’s faith, starting from the great mystery of the Annunciation.

Chaîre kecharitomene, ho Kyrios meta sou, “Hail, [rejoice] full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Lk 1:28)… The Angel’s greeting to Mary is therefore an invitation to joy, deep joy. It announces an end to the sadness that exists in the world because of life’s limitations, suffering, death, wickedness, in all that seems to block out the light of the divine goodness. It is a greeting that marks the beginning of the Gospel, the Good News.”

Benedict XVI emphasized the alternation of joy and spiritual "darkness": “The opening of the soul to God and to his action in faith also includes an element of obscurity…. Mary’s faith experienced the joy of the Annunciation, but also passed through the gloom of the crucifixion of the Son to be able to reach the light of the Resurrection.”

Finally, the Pope made this scriptural reading relevant for today’s baptized: “In our lives too, the almightiness of God acts with the force — often in silence — of truth and love.” In her life, “Mary enters into a deep conversation with the Word of God that has been announced to her, she does not consider it superficially but meditates on it, lets it sink into her mind and her heart so as to understand what the Lord wants of her.”

Zenit

Translated from the French – Article by Anita Bourdin, December 19, 2012