Today, 18th of March, we celebrate
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
The LORD spoke to Ahaz:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
"I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!"
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary men,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.
R./ Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
The Lord’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R./ Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R./ Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
He shall receive a blessing from the Lord,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R./ Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory.
In the sixth month,
the angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
Fiat!
The visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary reminds us of God’s pattern of choosing ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary purposes, as seen in Sarah, Anne, and the mother of Samson. These women, like Mary, were invited into God’s salvific plan, demonstrating that God’s power makes the impossible possible.
Pope Francis speaks of Mary as the perfect disciple who listens, questions and responds with trust. Mary’s initial reaction—confusion and realism—reflects a deep authenticity. She does not accept blindly but seeks to understand. Her question, “How can this be?” shows her faith as active and discerning, not passive. Similarly, in today’s world, Pope Francis calls us to embrace a discerning faith, one that engages deeply with God’s Word and responds to the signs of the times.
The angel’s assurance—“Do not be afraid”—is as relevant now as it was then. In a time of global uncertainty, from environmental crises to social fragmentation, this divine encouragement invites us to trust in God’s plan, even when it is beyond our comprehension. Mary’s response—“Let it be done to me according to your word”—challenges us to surrender ourselves to God’s will with humility and courage, a posture Pope Francis calls «missionary discipleship.»
The mention of Elizabeth reminds us of the communal nature of faith. As Mary journeys to serve Elizabeth, we too are called to journey alongside others, bringing hope and solidarity, especially to those marginalized or in need. In our Church, this means building bridges of understanding and service amidst division and uncertainty.
Mary, the handmaid of the Lord, models a life of service. Her “yes” echoes in every act of love and mission we undertake, teaching us that faith is not a privilege but service. May we, like Mary, say yes to God’s call today.
Introduction
The two beautiful texts of today correspond to each other as promise and fulfillment of the promise.Opening Prayer
God of the poor and the humble,General Intercessions
- Lord our God, make us aware of our poverty, that you may fill it with your riches, we pray:
- Lord, that like Mary we may accept and deeply believe in your word and live by it, we pray:
- Lord, let your Spirit awaken in us great aspirations of goodness and service, that we may bring people closer to Christ, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God of mercy and love,
by the power of the Holy Spirit
your Son became man
and was born of the Virgin Mary.
By the power of this same Spirit,
let your Son come among us
in these signs of bread and wine
and gather us together in love,
that we may become to the world today
the presence and the message
of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, mighty God,
you spoke your word to the Virgin Mary
and she accepted it readily in faith;
you committed your Son to her
and she gave him to all humankind.
May the Good News you have spoken to us,
stir our hearts to share it with all
as a liberating message
and may the bread of life we have eaten
make us free for the life you give us
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
God keeps his promises. He is trustworthy and loving. Do we too keep our promises? May we become reliable and worthy of trust, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
