Posted on 03/25/2015 10:46:15 PM PDT by Steelfish
Because Mary Said “Yes…” — A Reflection For The Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord
March 25, 2011 by Fr. Thomas Rosica
Standing in the middle of the present day city of Nazareth is the mammoth Basilica of the Annunciation, built around what is believed to be the dwelling of Mary. In a grotto-like room at the heart of the basilica is a small inscription on an altar. It reads, “verbum caro hic factum est,” here the Word became flesh. There, it is believed, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, and her response changed the world forever.
Imagine yourself in Mary’s place, asked to say “yes” to a divine plan so vast, so profound and so seemingly impossible that you cannot comprehend it. “How can this be?” she asks, bewildered. She is rooted in the faith of her ancestors, and yet now an angel has appeared in the midst of everyday life, extending a startling invitation. “You have found favor with God,” the angel says, “and you will conceive and bear His Son.” Will she accept?
It is Mary above all others who can teach us what it means to live by faith, and how to respond when God’s providence disrupts the daily course of our lives, overturning its rhythms and expectations. Despite her fears and uncertainty over how this promise could be fulfilled, she still answered “Yes.” Are we able to respond to God this way?
When we reflect on the Annunciation to Mary, and her acceptance of the angel’s message, we also reflect on our own vocation — our own calling from God. In the Lord’s Prayer, we pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” — an echo of Mary’s “Be it done unto me according to your word.”
Each time we commit ourselves to embracing God’s call and accepting His will, we mark a new point on the path of our relationship with Him. For the rest of her life, Mary pondered her extraordinary encounter with God, turning the weight of the angel’s message over and over again in her heart. From the manger to the cross, Mary’s life was radically changed — her relationship with God profoundly deepened — the moment she said “Yes.”
Mary received and welcomed God’s Word in the fullest sense — becoming impregnated with it, and bearing it to the world. Angels might not appear in our doorsteps, but we do encounter God in each of our daily prayers, and he whispers to us a similar invitation: Will we accept His love and bring it joyously to those around us? Will we trust in His providence, even when we can’t see the path ahead? Amid the noise of everyday life, will we listen for and embrace his call?
When making his pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Annunciation, Pope Benedict XVI offered this prayer to the humble Virgin of Nazareth. It speaks for all of us who likewise seek to accept God’s will with joy:
Mary, Mother of the “Yes,” you listened to Jesus, and know the tone of his voice and the beating of his heart. Morning Star, speak to us of him, and tell us about your journey of following him on the path of faith."
The whole of salvation is replete with references to human marriage and human bodies. If allegorical usage is hard for you to deal with, I cannot help you with that.
“The whole of salvation is replete with references to human marriage and human bodies. If allegorical usage is hard for you to deal with, I cannot help you with that.”
Oh, it was an “allegory”. Sorry, those can be easily mistaken for flawed analogies that people don’t want to admit to making once they are pointed out.
Revelation 19:7-9King James Version (KJV)
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
What’s widespread denial of His full humanity?
Your comment made no senseunless I statedas a fact that Jesus never soiled His diaper, which I didn’t say.
However being raised Catholic, I was taught that being the perfect baby, He didn’t cry, cause perfect babies don’t cry.
No, Mary didnot give God her permission, as she was never asked.
Now why would you twist words like that? She basically said "thy will be done". She had just been told what God was going to do.
It wasn't assent...It was acknowledgement of the inevitable...
This event was determined before the world was created...It wasn't by chance...This is what Mary was born for...
Jesus didn't look at the genealogy of David and say heh, there's a young girl born in the right time frame with the right ancestors, I'll ask her if she is interested...
Well, yeah...there IS that.
I respect and admire Mary for the example she gave for ALL Christians of being humble and submissive to the will of Almighty God. Unlike Moses, for example, she didn’t doubt or try to argue with God about how He would use her to further the salvation of the entire world. I think we can properly honor her by remembering these truths without going beyond what is written to exalt her above what we are told in God’s word. To GOD be the glory now and forevermore.
We know EXACTLY what she 'said' and YES was not it!
I see this thread had gotten some folks who do not, apparently, know what Scripture says...
Then how did Mary know He was hungry? Or that His swaddling clothes were soiled?
Oh. Wait. The logical, Roman Catholic answer would be she is omniscient! </sarc>
Even though they reference it...
Luke 1 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us;
2 According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:
3 It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.
26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.
31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever.
33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?
35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren:
37 Because no word shall be impossible with God.
38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
oh?
I've no 'opinion'; but I do have the Word of GOD; that Rome compiled for me.
Thanks!!
No 'yes' here:
38 And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Twice??
GMTA
And Jonah...
Ears; I got.
Wisdom; however; comes from GOD.
You horrible - HORRIBLE - HORRIBLE person!!!
How DARE you mention SEX when the Mother of Jesus is around!!!
HMMMmmm...
Leviticus 5:17-19 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
17 If any one sin through ignorance, and do one of those things which by the law of the Lord are forbidden, and being guilty of sin, understand his iniquity,
18 He shall offer of the flocks a ram without blemish to the priest, according to the measure and estimation of the sin: and the priest shall pray for him, because he did it ignorantly: and it shall be forgiven him,
19 Because by mistake he trespassed against the Lord.
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