It is appropriate that we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord within the season of Lent. This feast looks back at the events that preceded the birth of Jesus Christ, even as we meditate on the passion of Christ. Today's readings together bring to us the depth of mystery surrounding the incarnation, death and resurrection of the Lord.

Jesus was the much awaited one, Emmanuel, God who chose to dwell among us. At the same time, Lent reminds us that this same Jesus was the one despised by the chosen race, the priestly nation. In the Letter to the Hebrews we read how all other sacrifices were superceded by this one sacrifice of Jesus - a confluence of the priest, the sacrifice and the altar.

That being so, it is a good occasion for us also to reflect on our lives... to find out what are the different dimensions operating in our life - the sacred and secular, the spiritual and the mundane, our successes and failures. This is the moment for us to look at our lives poetically... philosophically... The very same moments we celebrate might be sprinkled with sadness; incidents which appear sorrowful might indeed bring joy.