The Beginning, The End

 “The angel Gabriel was sent from God...to a virgin…of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And when the angel had come to her, he said, “Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed art thou among women.” (Luke 1:28)

     This year, on Good Friday, we celebrated two important events as Good Friday landed on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation. Was it not amazing to celebrate these two glorious feasts on the same day?

     When the Angel Gabriel came to Mary and told her she was to be the mother of Jesus, it was the beginning of man’s redemption. All of history pivots around this one day. The moment that the Blessed Mother said “yes”, Christ took on flesh and became man.

     “For God so loved the world, as to give His only begotten Son; that whosoever believes in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.” (John 3:16)

     God gave us His Son to die for us in repayment of man’s sin. It was on the day of the Annunciation that His passion began and it was on Good Friday, when Christ died on the cross, that our redemption was fulfilled.

     We should meditate on these days in our Lord’s life for they are both great examples of God’s love and mercy. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice by humbling Himself to become man. Then He went through an excruciating passion and death. Suffering and death are the consequences of sin. Christ never sinned and yet He gladly suffered and died so that we would have the chance to be with Him in eternity.

     So on Good Friday, as we remember Christ’s passion and death, let us not forget the Annunciation which was the beginning of our redemption.

     “Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

                                    Student: Queen of The Holy Rosary School