3 Days to Christmas, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025

“A Big Announcement”

The Annunciation is the theological term for that moment when an angel announced to Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah. Long ago, the Church chose to give special attention to this event, and rightfully so. Not long after Mary’s Annunciation, Joseph, her betrothed, also received an angelic visit. These are among the most well-known angelic visits, but depending on how we count them, there are up to 300 recorded in Scripture.

That sounds like a lot, but these visits occurred over 1,500 to 2,000 years. If we do the math, that’s roughly one visit every five to seven years.

I’ve never been visited by an angel, but I had a relative who encountered one on his deathbed and then miraculously recovered. He shared that encounter with only one person, and that person shared it with me, and no one else.

My relative wasn’t a churchgoer. I know he believed in God, especially after that encounter, but he didn’t become a regular attendee or drastically change his habits. Does it matter? I’m not sure it did for him, but having that story for thirty years has encouraged me.

Why am I encouraged? I like the idea that God has messengers and divine interveners. It comforts me, especially during challenging times.

Over these past four weeks, churches have been reading about angelic visits. Many of us will hear them again on Christmas Eve, along with the story of the angels who appeared to shepherds watching their flocks by night.

Angels show up to bring news, but they also give words to guide.  Zechariah and Elizabeth needed an angel to encourage them in their miraculous birth. Mary needed the angel’s words to give her confidence. Joseph needed the angel’s instruction to give him strength. The shepherds needed a huge announcement so they could proclaim the good news to everyone. And we need those reminders, too, not because we can’t celebrate Christmas without them, but because Christmas becomes richer with them.

As Christmas draws near, let us remember that while angelic visits may be rare, God’s presence is constant. Whether we have seen angels or not, we know God still intervenes in our lives. And the greatest announcement of all is that God is with us—Emmanuel. That is the message that makes this season so full of hope.

“When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.  When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!”   (Luke 1:26-28, CEB)