On March 25th, Holy Mother Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Annunciation, a feast that marks the moment when the Eternal Word took flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In reflecting on this mystery, we turn to two scriptural passages: Isaiah 7:10-15 and Luke 1:26-38. These texts, read together, reveal the divine plan of salvation, prefigured in prophecy and fulfilled in the obedience of Mary. The Church Fathers, steeped in the sacred tradition, saw in these passages the profound mystery of the Incarnation—the moment when God’s promise became flesh.
The Prophecy Foretold: Isaiah 7:10-15
The prophet Isaiah speaks to King Ahaz, saying:
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
This prophecy, given amid the political turmoil of the Kingdom of Judah, transcends its immediate historical context. While some scholars suggest a partial fulfillment in the time of Ahaz, the Church Fathers saw this prophecy as ultimately pointing to the Virgin Mary and the birth of Christ.
St. Irenaeus of Lyons (2nd century), in his Against Heresies (Book III, 21:4), explicitly affirms that Isaiah’s prophecy refers to the virginal conception of Christ, rejecting any interpretation that would diminish the miraculous nature of this sign:
“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son. This sign was not given to Ahaz alone, but to the whole house of David, announcing the coming of Emmanuel, who was truly born of the Virgin.”
St. Jerome, in his defense of the virgin birth against heretics, insists that the Hebrew word almah (often translated as “young woman”) undeniably means a virgin, reinforcing the Church’s understanding that Isaiah’s prophecy speaks of the miraculous conception of Christ in the womb of the Blessed Virgin.
Thus, Isaiah’s words find their full meaning not in a mere earthly deliverance but in the divine intervention that would bring about the Incarnation of the Word.
The Fulfillment: Luke 1:26-38
St. Luke recounts the moment when the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled. The angel Gabriel is sent to a humble Virgin in Nazareth, announcing that she has “found favor with God” and will conceive and bear a Son, who will be called Son of the Most High.
Mary’s response to the angel’s message—her Fiat, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38)—marks the moment of the Incarnation. The Word became flesh in her womb through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit.
The Church Fathers saw in this moment the undoing of Eve’s disobedience. St. Irenaeus, in a famous passage, describes Mary as the New Eve:
“And so the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the Virgin Mary set free through faith.” (Against Heresies, Book III, 22:4)
Mary’s Fiat is a complete surrender to the will of God, a model of perfect obedience that stands in contrast to Eve’s rejection of God’s command in the Garden. Through Mary’s consent, the world receives its Savior.
The Mystery of the Incarnation and Our Response
The Annunciation is not merely an event of the past; it is a mystery that invites our participation. Just as Mary responded with faith and obedience, so too are we called to give our own Fiat to God’s will in our lives.
St. Ambrose of Milan, commenting on this passage, exhorts us:
“Let the soul of Mary be in each of you to magnify the Lord. Let the spirit of Mary be in each of you to exult in Christ.” (Exposition on Luke, 2:26)
To celebrate the Annunciation is to recognize that the Incarnation is not merely a doctrine to be acknowledged but a reality to be lived. Mary, in her humility, teaches us that God accomplishes His greatest works through those who trust Him completely.
Conclusion
As we meditate on Isaiah’s prophecy and its fulfillment in the Annunciation, we are reminded of the divine plan unfolding throughout salvation history. The virgin birth of Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem His people. Mary’s Fiat is the model of our own response to God’s call.
On this solemn feast, let us echo the words of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who beautifully describes the anticipation of all creation as it awaited Mary’s answer:
“You have heard, O Virgin, that you shall conceive and bear a Son; you have heard that it shall not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer… We too are waiting, O Lady, for a word of mercy. Give your answer quickly, O Virgin. Answer with a word, receive the Word!” (Homily on the Annunciation)
May we, like Mary, say “yes” to God, allowing His grace to work in us so that Christ may be born anew in our hearts.
Ave Maria! Fiat voluntas tua!