In today’s Gospel, we are blessed with the prayer that anchors us in the grace of Our Mother’s
love. The angel Gabriel declares over the Blessed Virgin the words we ought repeat over and
over, “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.” But what struck me most this time I read
this Gospel we hear each Advent season was Mary’s response to the angel of the Lord: she was
greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Why was it
that being full of grace, being with the Lord, troubled and left Mary perplexed? I’m reminded of
the nescient anxiety I still feel right before participating in the sacrament of reconciliation.
Though I know I will be met with grace, I am nevertheless fearful to be so profoundly met with
the magnanimity of God’s mercy. It seems to me that when we recite the Hail Mary prayer, we
ask Our Mother to pray for us sinners because she was the first to receive– and first to feel
troubled by– the proclamation of the fullness of divine Grace. Thus the angel reminds her amidst
her worry, “do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God” before foretelling the birth of
our Savior. Our response to today’s Psalm was, “let the Lord enter; He is the king of glory.” Let
us, too, not be afraid of letting the Lord enter and finding favor with God, for nothing is
impossible with him. Let us look to Our Mother as the example of saying, “may it be done to me
according to your word.”