Wednesday Gospel Webinar Portsmouth Diocese – Formation for Mission

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Literal meaning Where? Luke 1 – infancy narratives – in Nazareth, in Galilee When? After the ‘annunciation to Zechariah’, before the Visitation What? The angel Gabriel is sent by God to Mary Who? Gabriel and Mary How? Gabriel announces to Mary that she is to conceive a son Why? The Saviour comes into the world through Mary

Receiving Salvation In time In space In secret In human nature In freedom In fulfilment of a promise In joy

Finding God Sends Gabriel Is with Mary / with us Has a message (and messenger) Fulfils / guarantees his promise Has a Son / is Son Has a Spirit / is Spirit

Finding the human person Mary Receives Is deeply disturbed Questions / seeks to understand Responds in the assent of faith: In total freedom In obedience

Finding the Church Cosmic event Entry of God into time and space Mary as a figure of the Church Mary as model of holiness Grace and nature

Mary, Virgin and Mother, you who, moved by the Holy Spirit, welcomed the word of life in the depths of your humble faith: as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One, help us to say our own “yes” to the urgent call, as pressing as ever, to proclaim the good news of Jesus.   Mother of the living Gospel, wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones, pray for us. Amen. Alleluia.

Acknowledgments Mosaics artworks: © Fr Marko Rupnik and Centro Aletti www.centroaletti.com With gratitude to the Wednesday Word www.wednesdayword.org