In the quiet town of Nazareth, lived a young woman named Mary. She was betrothed to a kind-hearted man named Joseph. One day, as Mary was going about her daily chores, an angel named Gabriel appeared before her. The angel’s presence was both startling and awe-inspiring, but he spoke gently, saying, ¡°Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.¡±
Mary’s heart raced with a mix of fear and curiosity. Gabriel continued, ¡°You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.¡±
Mary was puzzled and asked, ¡°How will this be, since I am a virgin?¡± Gabriel explained, ¡°The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.¡±
Mary’s faith and humility shone through as she replied, ¡°I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.¡± With these words, she embraced the incredible destiny that lay ahead. The Annunciation marked the beginning of a journey that would change the world forever.