The attention of the whole world is focussed on the current crisis. People are afraid. Normal life is at a stand still. Economically, and in other ways too, we seem to be gazing into the abyss. And in the midst of it all, the Catholic Church rejoices today with exceeding great joy. Even when Churches are locked, and the faithful are not allowed to come to Mass, still the whole Church throughout the world celebrates today the Annunciation of the Lord. Today, God the Word became flesh; the light shone out in the darkness; salvation entered our world. Today, as we sang at Lauds this morning: on account of the sheer excess of love with which he loved us, God sent forth his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (cf. Eph 2:4; Rm 8:3). In astonishment and wonder we contemplate today the limitlessly rich grace, the super-abundant gift, the un-looked for, un-heard of, wholly gratuitous blessing that comes to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. In him God comes to us; God is with us; God raises us up; God shares with us his own divine life.
Without in any way under-estimating the gravity of the present crisis, in the light of today’s feast, we see it all in better perspective. Our present inconveniences and worries and troubles are real enough, but they cannot compare in magnitude with what we are celebrating now. Fear of death cannot stand when confronted by the gift of eternal life. Even loss of loved ones, of property and of all we hold dear is radically relativised when we consider the implications of the Incarnation.
And if all that weren’t enough, our feast occurs most appropriately in the context of lent, now counting down with ever increasing momentum towards Holy Week, and the Passion and Death of Christ. We think of people suffering and dying, we consider Christ hanging on the Cross, and we know that God is with us; He does not abandon us, however dark and comfortless our situation might appear. And then, after Good Friday and Holy Saturday, Easter Day will arrive, and we will proclaim Christ’s definitive triumph. He triumphed over death, over the devil, over all that is evil, and on the world was unleashed a Spring-tide eruption of life, light, holiness, forgiveness, redemption, communion, love, joy.
In the light of our holy faith we know that grace is often mysteriously present not just amid blessings and consolations, but often, and even more so, amidst trials, griefs, difficulties, sufferings, loss, distress. So, surely, with this crisis. Potentially this could be for each of us, and for our country and the whole world, somehow, a marvellous opportunity; a call; a fresh chance. So we pray that in these times, out of evil will be drawn good, in multiple ways. May many people, through all this, find their way back to God. May former enemies be reconciled. May the empty promises of secularism and the various current false ideologies be seen at last for what they are. May we all grow in a sense of solidarity; may people discover the blessing that comes with concern for the weak and suffering; may we all focus ever more faithfully on the One Thing Necessary in this life.
There’s a very natural instinct, which I think is quite healthy, in times of plague to become more intensely aware of the gravity of sin, and of all offenses against God. Surely now will be a good time for people, ourselves of course included, to repent of their sins, to beg the mercy of God, and to seek from Him absolution, reconciliation, new conversion, a new and better way of life.
Another good instinct, when things we value are threatened, is to recover or intensify our sense of gratitude. So we take this opportunity to thank God for everything we have, for everyone we love, for all the gifts and blessings we have received in all our life. And now above all we thank God for the gift of the Holy Eucharist. These days almost everyone in the country, maybe even almost everyone in the world, is being asked to fast from the Holy Eucharist. We monks here are so very fortunate and privileged still to be able to get to daily Mass and Communion. All the more should we treasure this gift, and receive it not only on our own behalf, but on behalf of others too, whose need for Christ is not less than our own.
Today God the Son entered our history, and he continues to enter our lives very directly through the Holy Eucharist. In the Blessed Sacrament He is with us, and we with him. He came in order to give himself completely to us. In the Holy Eucharist we receive him completely, with nothing at all held back, short of the final vision of glory in heaven.
I haven’t yet mentioned the one person who stands at the centre of today’s feast; the person through whom alone we are able to celebrate it; the person through whom God gave himself to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Let me now then, with the holy Angel, and with us all, praise our Blessed Lady. Hail Mary! we cry, endlessly, always fruitfully, ever with fresh inspiration. And amidst this crisis we turn to her with special urgency. We need her now as intercessor and advocate as never before.
So we ask Our Blessed Lady to intercede today for all vulnerable people, all who have the sickness, all who are dying, and for the recently dead. We ask her prayers for those who are forced to live in isolation, and who suffer as a result from loneliness or metal illness, from stress, anxiety, depression or neglect. We ask her to guide, protect and bless our politicians, and all who work in the health or emergency services, and all who are toiling to combat this disease.
And so we cry: Mother of God, pray for us! Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us! Most powerful Virgin, pray for us! Cause of our joy, pray for us! Health of the sick, pray for us! Consolation of the afflicted, pray for us! Help of Christians, pray for us!
To your protection we fly, holy Mother of God. Do not despise the prayers we make in these our necessities, but set us free from all dangers, O most glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.