Lent is asking God “how”?

40 Shades of Lent by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, 25 March 2025
Isaiah 7:10-14;8:10  +  Hebrews 10:4-10  +  Luke 1:26-38

As we journey towards Easter,
we thank you dear God our Father
for the gift of this Solemnity of the
Annunciation of the birth of Jesus
to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
teaching us how the Christ 
came into this world with the
Blessed Virgin Mary's attitude
and example worth emulating
as our companion in this Lenten journey
when she asked Archangel Gabriel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations
with a man?"
(Luke 1:34).

Many times in life,
we live as if there is no God,
with us not only playing like you,
O God but actually acting truly
as God.
We live our lives according to
our own ways, to our own standards,
to our own thinking that most often
lead to more disasters,
more problems and worst,
broken self and broken relationships;
we feel we know better than you
than anyone.

Teach us, Jesus,
to be humble like your Mother,
the Blessed Virgin Mary:
in her asking 
Archangel Gabriel
"How can this be",
she had already expressed her
acceptance of the Father's invitation 
to be your Mother;
many times,
we refuse to even listen
to God’s plan for us as we
we rarely or have stopped
 praying at all
so unlike Mary who must
have been at prayer
when Gabriel came.
In her asking "How
can this be?",
Mary was already setting aside
 her own plans in life
to give way to God's plan;
in asking "How
can this be?", Mary showed us
the beauty of prayer
as a relationship where there
is true freedom and openness 
to God in you, Jesus.

Forgive us Jesus
when we act like King Acaz
so hypocrite,
pretending not to test you
 when in fact we have already
decided on our own
without considering you
at all.
.
How, O Lord,
can we truly change our ways
to follow God’s plans
and most unique ways
for nothing is impossible 
in him?
Amen.