Annunciation of the Lord

The mystery of the Annunciation is the beginning of Mary's Journey with Her Divine Son. She, a faithful daughter of of God, chosen by the Father, now receives the invitation to allow the salvation of the world to come through her into our world.
John Paul II, in his Apostolic Letter : Rosarium Virginis Mariae, reflects on Mary's help to us in our devotion and love for Jesus.

Mary's memories

11. Mary lived with her eyes fixed on Christ, treasuring his every word: “She kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19; cf. 2:51). The memories of Jesus, impressed upon her heart, were always with her, leading her to reflect on the various moments of her life at her Son's side. In a way those memories were to be the “rosary” which she recited uninterruptedly throughout her earthly life.

Even now, amid the joyful songs of the heavenly Jerusalem, the reasons for her thanksgiving and praise remain unchanged. They inspire her maternal concern for the pilgrim Church, in which she continues to relate her personal account of the Gospel. Mary constantly sets before the faithful the “mysteries” of her Son, with the desire that the contemplation of those mysteries will release all their saving power. In the recitation of the Rosary, the Christian community enters into contact with the memories and the contemplative gaze of Mary.

Rouault's Christ

In this time of Lent we are called to look deeply in our soul. To examine those areas of darkness in which we often lose ourselves. Areas which takes us away from the abundant life to which we are called; areas which hurt the life we are called to give to others. Only in facing the sometimes harsh reality of our lives, allowing the sinful self to come to light, can one then allow Christ to take that suffering and let be nailed to the cross with him. This is the Path of redemption, this is the path of Healing.
Looking at the face of the suffering Christ we see the love of God staring back at us. In Christ's humanity, in his willingness to be one with us even in suffering, we are able to face life with a new hope.

Isaiah 53, the suffering servant come to my mind:
Surely he has born our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that made us whole,
and with his stripes we are healed.