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Good Morning. Two weeks ago, with a priest-friend, I drove over to the beautiful Isle of Purbeck near Swanage. We walked across the headland to Old Harry Rocks. The sun was shining and we had a great pub lunch! But as we drove back on the M27, listening to the latest on the coronavirus, I began to feel a bit downcast: would this be the last time for a while we could do this? Little did we know then what was coming with all the current restrictions. And yet despite it all, today, 25th March, is for Christians a day of great joy. It’s the Feast of the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary and invited Her to become the Mother of God the Son, Jesus Christ. Mary said to the angel: But how can this come about? She was perplexed. Sometimes in life the unexpected happens, something big, something that demands a lot from us, like now, the calamity of a pandemic. We cannot fully comprehend what’s happening. St. Bernard of Clairvaux, commenting on this scene from the Gospel of Luke, tells us how the whole world waited anxiously for Mary’s response. Without it, humanity would never have received its Saviour. I am the handmaid of the Lord said Mary: let what you have said be done to me. Her ‘yes’ means that in exactly nine months’ time, it will be Christmas Day. Covid-19 is having a profound impact on life. Our thoughts at this time are most especially with the sick, the poor, the elderly, and with the medical staff caring for us in the NHS. Last night on social media two medics posted a video of themselves holding up signs through the window of their intensive care unit: We are at work for you: you stay at home for us. It’s a small thing, but it’s a big ask. That’s how we can all help and show our solidarity. It’s the role of religion to unite us with our Creator and to help us find in God the answer to our deepest longings, together with the grace, energy and power to do what otherwise would be impossible: to bear sickness, suffering, tragedy and even death. It is my prayer today we’ll soon overcome this crisis and be able, like Mary, to look forward to the future with confidence.