Annunciation Day, celebrated as the day when a slight young teenage girl, was visited by an Angel , to be told that she has found favour in the eyes of the Lord, and chosen to be the mother of His Son, The Messiah. Overwhelmed, confused and honoured, she felt both elation and dread, but with unquestioning faith she accepted the news. With tender love she raised, The One who came to save the world , The One who was her world.
It was absolute faith in God’s covenant that enabled Sarah to send little Issac with her husband Abraham, to perform a sacrifice, though the lamb was missing. Honouring Abraham’s obedience to God’s commandment, not questioning his action, she complied. But that did not stop her from seeking the Lord,’s mercy, from falling to her knees praying tearfully, to spare her child . ‘‘Twas her tears, not just her husband’s trusting belief that The Heavenly Father rewarded, and Isaac was saved.
In the desert, banished from home, wandering through the vast ocean of sand, searching in vain for water, the life giving water to quench their thirst, were Hagar and her little son. Under the scorching sun, carrying her dying son, Hagar dropped to her knees and sobbed in prayer, asking God for mercy, to save her child . ‘‘Twas her tears that the Lord saw, answering her with a spring of cool fresh water,spouting from the melting desert sand ,to quench their thirst to bring the boy back to life .
Was it not Jochebed’s faith in the Lord, that gave her the courage to release her infant son Moses, in the flow of the mighty Nile, to save him from Pharaoh’s decree of ‘sword for the Israelite babies, in nothing but a a reed basket ? Was it not her tearful prayers that kept him safe, that found him refuge in the palace, under the guardianship of none other than the king’s own sister ? Was it not Jochebed’s prayers that allowed her to nurse her baby in the royal household, as Moses the Israelite boy was raised a prince and found favour in pharaoh’s eyes. ?
So it is, that the day of Annunciation is set aside to recognise and honour motherhood , a role most sacred. A mother, who from the day her baby takes birth in her womb, sacrifices all, for the well being of the infant, to raise the child. It is the mother’s tearful prayers, which is seldom ignored, even by the Most Divine, that keeps her child alive. In the gospels we see, many occasions when Jesus stops to heal children, to answer the tearful pleas of a mother. It is her beseeching prayers, the tears she stores in Heaven, that saves her hapless children and fills them with abounding grace .
Mary Jacob 