As we journey through the sacred season of Lent, the readings of Feria Secunda infra Hebdomadam III in Quadragesima (Monday of the Third Week in Lent) invite us to reflect upon the profound unity between Old Testament prophecy and its fulfillment in Christ. The connection between Daniel 9:21-26 and Luke 1:26-38 reveals God’s providential plan for salvation, culminating in the Incarnation of the Word.
The Angelic Announcement: From Daniel to the Annunciation
In Daniel 9, the prophet receives a vision from the angel Gabriel, who brings a message of restoration and messianic fulfillment. Daniel, having prayed fervently for the deliverance of Israel, is visited by Gabriel, who declares:
“Seventy weeks are shortened upon thy people and upon thy holy city, that transgression may be finished, and sin may have an end, and iniquity may be abolished, and everlasting justice may be brought, and vision and prophecy may be fulfilled, and the saint of saints may be anointed.” (Dan. 9:24, Douay-Rheims)
This passage is one of the most profound Messianic prophecies, foretelling not only the coming of Christ but also the atonement He would accomplish. St. Jerome, in his commentary on Daniel, explains that these “seventy weeks” point to the period leading up to Christ’s Passion, the ultimate sacrifice for sin. He writes:
“Christ the prince comes after seventy weeks, that is, after 490 years… and after His Passion, the sacrifices of the Law cease, and a new covenant is established.” (St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, Book IX)
This prophecy finds its fulfillment in Luke 1:26-38, where the same angel Gabriel appears, now to the Virgin Mary, to announce the Incarnation of the Messiah. Gabriel’s words to Mary echo the promise given to Daniel:
“Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever.” (Luke 1:31-33)
Thus, Gabriel—who once announced the time of the Messiah’s coming to Daniel—now reveals to Mary that the time has been fulfilled.
The Restoration of Israel and the New Temple
Daniel’s vision speaks of the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the coming of an “anointed one” (Messiah), who shall be cut off” (Dan. 9:26). The Fathers of the Church understood this as a prophecy of Christ, who, though rejected and crucified, would establish the true and eternal Temple—not made of stone, but of His own Body and the Church.
St. Augustine, meditating on this passage, writes:
“What was that Temple but His Body, of which He said, ‘Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up’ (John 2:19)? He was cut off, not for Himself, but for the salvation of all. His Passion put an end to the old sacrifices, for He became the one true Victim.” (City of God, Book XVIII, Ch. 45)
Similarly, the Fathers saw in Mary’s womb the new and living temple where God would dwell. St. Ephrem the Syrian beautifully exclaims:
“Blessed are you, O Mary, in whose womb dwelt the Lord of all! He left the great Temple in Jerusalem and chose the lowly dwelling of your body to sanctify it as the new Holy of Holies.” (Hymns on the Nativity, Hymn 17)
Thus, Daniel’s vision and the Annunciation converge: the awaited Messiah has come, and He inaugurates a new covenant in His own flesh.
The Lenten Call to Prepare for Christ’s Passion
During Lent, we are called to meditate on Christ’s Passion and the fulfillment of prophecy. Just as Daniel prayed for the restoration of his people, so too must we pray for the renewal of our souls. The Annunciation teaches us the proper disposition of the soul in preparing for Christ: humility, obedience, and trust. Mary’s words, “Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum” (Let it be done to me according to thy word),” (Luke 1:38) are the model for our own response to God’s will in this penitential season.
St. Leo the Great reminds us that the Incarnation and the Cross are inseparable:
“He who was God before all ages did not disdain to become man in time, so that He who is immortal could suffer death, and by His Passion destroy the power of death.” (Sermon 22 on the Nativity)
Thus, as we progress through Lent, we must embrace both the joy of the Incarnation and the sorrow of the Passion, knowing that through Christ’s suffering, the prophecy of Daniel is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is established in our hearts.
Conclusion: Awaiting the Fullness of Redemption
The message of Daniel 9:21-26 and Luke 1:26-38 is one of hope and fulfillment. The prophecy of the coming Messiah is realized in the Annunciation, yet its ultimate consummation is in the Passion and Resurrection. As we continue our Lenten journey, let us turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the New Temple, and ask her to guide us in faith and humility. May we, like Daniel, remain steadfast in prayer, and like Mary, respond with total trust in God’s divine plan.
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.