Forgive me the sinner.

In the Name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

This evening the Church pauses in the midst of these days of the great Fast to join with the Prophet Moses in beholding that which defies rational thought – the Burning Bush of God that is not consumed by the flames! So great is this Mystery beforehand unknown by any that the message alone is entrusted to the Archangel Gabriel. Indeed, it is a Mystery that even the angels of Heaven long to look into, says the Apostle Peter (1 Pe. 1:12), a Mystery known only unto God. “Before all things were created,” says ben Sirach, “everything was known to [God], and the end of all things is known to Him” (Sr. 23:20). From eternity God has seen and known and determined this day, this event, this magnificent Annunciation to Mary of Nazareth, Ever-Virgin. Today the Good News is announced and the Royal Doors of Paradise are opened again and true repentance bears fruit. For here, today, at the word of the Archangel a virgin – the Virgin of all virgins of every time and of every place – is ignited with divine Fire and is not consumed! To no one else has ever been said or called, “’full of grace,’” but only to this Woman ever-blessed and most pure and the Mother of our God (Origen). Here, in the pristine womb of this most blessed and holy of all women, the Lamb of God, “slain from the foundation of the world,” is conceived without the aid or seed of man (Is. 53:6-8; Jn. 1:29; 1 Pe. 1:13-21; Rv. 13:8). From this Woman so full of grace comes forth Her Son Who is Himself “full of grace and Truth” (Jn. 1:14). Here, the ancient prophecy finds fertile soil, “’Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, . . . .’” (Is. 7:14). “’Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women!,’” She hears. And, lo, the Babe of all babes is conceived by the Holy Spirit Who overshadows Her just as at the beginning of creation when the Spirit of God brooded over the waters bringing forth something from nothing, bringing order to chaos (Gn. 1:1).

Indeed, in the pure and holy Virginal womb of the Blessed Lady Theotokos the Cross was planted upon which would hang the salvation of the whole world. Without this holy, glorious, and all-laudable Virgin Mary of Nazareth, there would be no salvation because there would be no Saviour of the world! The Annunciation of the Archangel to this most beautiful Woman – the New Eve – and Her prophetically inspired surrender, “’Here am I. Send me!,’” is the linchpin, then, of our salvation and the keystone of history (Is. 6:1-8).

It is through the Annunciation, therefore, as through these Royal Doors made beautiful by the same, that we must pass in order to attain to communion with God. For we, too, beloved, must surrender ourselves to this divine and holy Mystery of our redemption and sanctification, just as much as our holy Mother had to give Herself entirely to the will of God to be the Ark of God and the Tabernacle of His abiding Presence, the Holy of Holies – the Burning Bush not consumed. We, too, must utter Her confession, “’Behold the [servant] of the Lord! Let it be to me according to Thy Word’” (Lk. 1:24-38). For through Her womb, “made more spacious than the heavens,” joy has come into all the world!

One final observation, beloved: The Virgin conceives in that moment without benefit of the natural order of things. Yet, let no one doubt – that which was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in that moment – was fully the pre-eternal God and fully Man. By this Incarnation, then, the horror and heresy of the abortion industry is exposed for what it really is: the diabolical murder of human beings sanctified by God’s taking on of our flesh and blood from the moment of conception (Hb. 2:11-18; Matins Theotokion, Tone 1).

And God said to Moses from the midst of the burning bush that was not consumed: “’Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.’” And so, the Church honors Her today who has become God’s holy ground.

“Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb: for thou hast borne the Saviour of our souls.”

Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Lord Jesus Christ our God,

have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

VIGIL PROPERS: 

Gn. 28:10-17 Hb. 2:11-18

Ek. 43:27-44:4 Lk. 1:24-38

Pr. 9:1-11

Ex. 3:1-8

Pr. 8:22-30

PROPERS:

Hb. 2:11-18

Lk. 1:24-38