Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary.”
Luke 1:30
Face it: the holidays can be a little bit crazy. No one can predict when you might have unexpected company and wind up setting another place at the table. So it’s comforting to hear once again what happened when Mary had a surprise visitor knocking at her door.
That visitor knew what to say. Four words, “Do not be afraid,” offered reassurance 20 centuries ago, and they do it again today. They say to anyone feeling anxious or stressed: It’s okay. Take a deep breath. God’s got this.
The Annunciation tells us that the impossible is possible, that miracles happen, that angels can sometimes visit.
It’s also a reminder at the end of this Holy Year that Mary was a Pilgrim of Hope. She journeyed in trust. She believed. She let go and let God. She hoped.
The takeaway? Be brave. Be open to wonder and possibility.
God’s got this.
Besides, you never know when an angel might drop by.
