The Annunciation begins the life story of God with us as a human being. We are aware of his bodily presence but we, becasue we know we are redeemed, cannot overlookor gorget that he is sent to us from God, that he, too, is divine. He is God's presence among us. He is the servant who came to be with us and to bring about the most singular event in woulrd history: "you shall bear a child ... he will be called holy, the Son of God." Gabriel did not say "a" son of God buy "the" Son of God.In our lenten journey this year have there been times when I gave myself to quiet relfection of this extraordinary gift? Here is the man Jesus whose life is the foremost object of our lenten prayer --- his life when he is forced to endure great pain and suffering for me. All of this, all of his for me!
When we are but ten days from the most Sacred Days that distinguish Christianity from all other religions, would we not actually sense a genuine satisfaction with ourselves if we directed some of our precious time to prayer and sacrifice to be a companion with the man who made the perfect offering on our behalf?
Are you, am I too busy, too preoccupied to isolate some time each day to read a psalm that would unite me more with this man, this suffering servant? Let me suggest a few psalms you might read during these days ... or perhaps just one that you might read each day ... in a modified form of Lectio Divina that was mentioned several days ago. Psalms 2, 22 (verses 2-23), 38, 40(verses 2-14, 17-18), 51, 54 (veres 1-6, 8-9), 88, 116, 143 (verses 1-11) and 147 are wonderful reflections for us to consider the marvelous love of God the Father and the extraordinary sacrifice of Jesus for us.
