Reading
Luke 1:26-29
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Devotion
Today is the Feast of the Annunciation. For those who can do math, March 25 is nine months before December 25. The feast has been celebrated since at least the Fifth Century commemorating both the belief that the spring equinox was not only the day of God's act of Creation but also the beginning of Christ's redemption of that same Creation. Christian antiquity also held 25 March as the actual day of Jesus' death! So, this day is pregnant with meaning (pun intended!)
For those who know me well, know that Henry Ossawa Tanner's rendering of the Annunciation is my favorite painting in the world.
Prayer
Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have
known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced
by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion
be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and
reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)