You and I received an invitation and a challenge on Ash Wednesday: “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” These words of Jesus can also be translated: “Turn to God and put all your trust in God.” Jesus declares that the “Time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Jesus is telling us that God is near to us, right next to us and He asks us to put all of our trust in our Heavenly Father as Jesus himself will do throughout his earthly life.
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation. As we hear in today’s Gospel, the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she is “full of grace” and the Lord is with her. The angel Gabriel also announces that Mary is to be the mother of the Son of the Most High (God). Although Mary has her questions and perhaps even her doubts, she shows that she also has true faith as she responds to the angel with the words: “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Mary’s response of faith puts God’s will and God’s way before all else. She repents (turns) to God and puts all her faith and trust in God. Mary gives us a sure example to follow as each of us are invited to repent and believe in the Gospel during this season of Lent and especially during this time of war, of violence and of the senseless and evil killing of innocent people.
Pope Francis calls us today to “solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine to the Mother of God and our Mother.” In the words of Pope Francis, we pray: “O Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, in this time of trial we turn to you. As our Mother, you love us and know us: no concern of our hearts is hidden from you. Mother of mercy, how often we have experienced your watchful care and your peaceful presence! You never cease to guide us to Jesus, the Prince of Peace…May God’s mercy be poured out on the earth and the gentle rhythm of peace return to mark our days…restore among us the harmony that comes from God.” (Pope Francis, “Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary”)