Something big

One day I was doing a rather mundane errand when I suddenly saw something very different:

A dozen or more television trucks lined up across the street.

The sign was unmistakable: something big was about to happen.

News of it would go around the world, although it affected the lives of relatively few.

One day a young girl in a small town was doing everyday things when she suddenly saw something very different:

The Archangel Gabriel… and he was talking to her.

The sign was unmistakable: something very big was about to happen.

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.”

News of it would go around the world and would affect the lives of everyone forever.

As you and I go about the mundane things of our day, we too should look for signs. They will probably not involve satellite trucks or archangels or earthshaking events, but because of what happened to that young girl in that small town – what we hear in today's Gospel (Luke 1:26-38) and celebrate today on the Solemnity of the Annunciation – signs of grace are all around us: signs that are unmistakable, signs of God’s grace happening.

And there is nothing bigger or more glorious than the grace of God that comes to us through Jesus Christ our Lord.