In a way, this feast is a greater occasion than Christmas. For us, it is the greatest moment in human history. When the Son of God began his life as one of us in this world. This event, in many ways - even for those who do not believe in the Christian message - is one of the major turning points, if not the major turning point, in the history of our planet. And yet how simple the surroundings of such a momentous event! A young girl, engaged to be married and living in a simple house in a small town in a small country. Not the setting one would expect. Naturally, the girl is alarmed at the request and at the way the angel speaks to her: "Hail, full of grace!" And how can she conceive a son when she has not yet had conjugal relations with her husband-to-be? But she recognised the messenger as coming from God and, in deep faith and trust, accepted what she was being asked to do and be. "Let it happen to me as you have said." This is the unconditional 'Yes' to what God had asked of her. It is the very moment when God's Son began his life among us and is Mary's moment of glory. For here is Mary's true greatness, not so much that she was chosen to be the Mother of God but that she responded with such generosity. Let us thank Mary today for her unconditional 'Yes and let us ask her to help us to say our 'Yes' to God, today and for the rest of our lives.