Anchored in Hope

The Annunciation: A Moment of Hope and Anticipation

As the days get darker and shorter, we begin this period of joyful hope in anticipation of our Savior’s birth. In part, this anticipation started on March 25 when we celebrated the Annunciation. Have you ever really stopped to think about this moment? “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (Luke 1:36). Gabriel goes on to tell Mary about her cousin, Elizabeth, who is pregnant in her old age. St. Luke tells us that Mary went in haste to visit her cousin and captured the wonder and awe of the encounter.  

Mary’s Faithful Response to God’s Promise

In these extraordinary events, we see Mary’s faith, hope, and love, which reveal the purity of her Immaculate Heart. We must praise and recognize that faith enabled her to “see” God’s promise of a Savior being fulfilled and that what was necessary was for her free response of “Let it be done to me.”  

The Consolation of Hope in God’s Love

This moment of the Annunciation and her visit to Elizabeth marked a period of trial and pondering, especially trusting in God. While she must have experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit when Jesus was conceived in her womb, there must have been periods of silent loneliness and wonder. It is in these kinds of moments that hope becomes our surety and anchor. Hope runs deep and requires us to walk through periods of darkness, suffering, and wonder. Mary walked this path as she went to visit Elizabeth. It would be the first of many journeys through darkness, suffering, and wonder. Yet her trust and hope in God’s promise enabled her to be anchored in Him. Imagine her joy when she held in her arms John the Baptist, the son of her cousin Elizabeth. And the consolation she experienced when she heard, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42). At this moment, the darkness lifted, as Mary could share the extraordinary graces in her life. Yes, God’s love is so real.  

Anchored in God’s Love and Promises

So, as you journey through Advent and all its blessings (which Satan also loves to use to distract us), I encourage you to spend time in the darkness, loneliness, and wonder of Mary and perhaps of your own personal struggles. God will not abandon you, and He will send you an “Elizabeth” or “Joseph”. He doesn’t want you to be alone and isolated. Draw upon the virtue of hope and let the anchor in your hands drop into the ocean of God’s love.