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."
“When they “profess” belief in the God of Abraham, they are lying.”
No, actually they’re not. And you have no evidence to the contrary do you?
“I was surprised when the pope, the leader of the Catholic church, pronounced the merging of the real God with the god of Islam.”
There was no “merging”, there was no such pronouncement by the pope, and there is only one God. Seriously, can you get anything right?
Again, so according to you all Jews who believe they are worshiping Yahweh are actually worshiping demons. Make sure and tell that to the Protestants here.
And that was your claim because the Bible says no such thing and none of the verses you posted claim that either.
Let me ask this of any Roman Catholic Freeper...how would anyone be able to tell the difference between "worship" of Mary - which you claim there is never any evidence of anyone actually worshiping Mary - and the kind of "reverence" that IS officially approved? Seeing as nobody can read another person's mind to know what they really are intending by their outward acts, how is anyone supposed to tell the difference?
God certainly forbid the Jews from following after strange gods and pagan idols and He also forbid them from mimicking the same acts that these pagans did before their false gods such as making graven images of them, bowing down before them, making offerings to them, sacrificing their children and other things. I'd just like to know how any Catholic can make such a blanket statement that NO Catholic actually worships Mary when they cannot know what is in someone's heart, what their intent is or what they think they are doing in their dedication to her. I don't think it can be honestly claimed that nobody worships Mary in Catholicism.
BTW...if the answer is that anyone who actually DOES worship Mary isn't a "true" Catholic, then save it. That's a cop-out.
“...how would anyone be able to tell the difference between “worship” of Mary - which you claim there is never any evidence of anyone actually worshiping Mary - and the kind of “reverence” that IS officially approved?”
Simple. I have a friend who is becoming Catholic at the Easter Vigil this year. He was raised as a Lutheran.
Here’s what we’ve talked about and what he knows. He has said the following things - although I admit that I am making his comments succinct so if you want to accuse me of putting words in his mouth feel free. The accusation wouldn’t be true, but these are not quotes and I admit it freely:
He knows Mary is not God.
He knows Jesus is the Savior sent by His Father in Heaven to become man, die on the cross, rise from the dead.
He knows Mary intercedes for us, but did not create grace and does not control the universe. God did create grace. God does control the universe.
Thus, when he prays the rosary, he asks for Mary’s prayerful help, her intercession, before Christ’s throne.
He does not worship her for he knows she is not God.
“Seeing as nobody can read another person’s mind to know what they really are intending by their outward acts, how is anyone supposed to tell the difference?”
Simple. 1) What is their stated intention? Not worship. 2) How were they taught and raised in the faith? They were not taught to worship anyone other than God. 3) Is there any reason to doubt what they say? No. 4) Is there any known, recent, nearby verified history to the contrary? Absolutely none.
And let me ask you the same thing:
Seeing as nobody can read another person’s mind to know what they really are intending by their outward acts, how is anyone supposed to tell you actually worship God rather than the man standing in front of you in church? Don’t tell me you don’t worship the guy in front of you and that your proof is that you say things about Jesus, post your testimony, etc. After all you’re just living in darkness (you worship the guy in the pew in front of you after all) so you must be deluded or lying, right? Maybe you secretly worship the Easter Bunny. How would I know otherwise? Maybe you are a member of a strange cult that sacrifices chickens to Thor and children to Molech. How would I know otherwise? You know how I know? Basically I take you at your word that you’re a Christian of some kind. Sadly, you won’t extend the same courtesy to us. The reason is obvious too.
Oh, and by the way:
“BTW...if the answer is that anyone who actually DOES worship Mary isn’t a “true” Catholic, then save it. That’s a cop-out.”
Sorry, but you don’t get to decide what is or isn’t a “cop-out” about a religion that isn’t yours.
The Koran.
...there is only one God.
Glad you caught that.
Islam has a "God" called Allah.
That's their one "God."
That's not the God of Christians.
Ever hear of false gods?
There was no “merging” "...of the real God with the god of Islam"
Ok, not merged "Gods/gods."
Merged belief systems would be more accurate.
The deflection continues.
Can’t say aas I blame Catholics.
Actually owning up to stuff like this that the RCC teaches in the CCC is downright embarrassing.
Then neither do you get to pass judgment and define what is or isn’t about a religion that isn’t yours.
But sonce you do regularly, if you dish it out, be prepared to take it.
Genesis 20:2
and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." So King Abimelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.
...I was forced to remove them by the Admin Moderator.
If it's so simple; why the constant badgering about it?
It's been shown the the MUSLIM concept of GOD of Abraham is NOT the same as our C&P concept.
I'd think CCC841 needs an addendum that states:
"841A The Church's relationship with the PROTESTANTS. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Protestants; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind's judge on the last day."
This seems vaguely Masonic.
As long as a member believes in some type of Supreme Being; the organization doesn't really care WHO or WHAT it is.
The standard response when it's plain as day...
How can he know this?
It seems like someone was 'taught' that there is ANOTHER mediator between man and GOD; in direct conflict with what the Bible states.
Thus, when he prays the rosary, he asks for Mary’s prayerful help, her intercession, before Christ’s throne.
And you have the AUDACITY to JUDGE Protestants!
Amazing!!!
2) God forbids consulting with mediums and spiritists --- some translations say sorcerers and necromancers --- because they conjured (or said they conjured) the presence of spirits, and went to them for fortune-telling. God forbids conjuring and fortune-telling. He does not forbid asking other members of the Body of Christ to help us spiritually, because we do depend on each other spiritually. That's the very meaning of "Body of Christ."
IN fact, Paul says you should never say you don't need them. " The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"" (1 Corinthians 12:21)
Muslims profess to believe in the God of Abraham. You don’t have to like the fact that they do, but they do.
And for you to say that your evidence against their profession of belief in the God of Abraham is the Koran makes no sense. One of the Surahs is named after Abraham.
“Actually owning up to stuff like this that the RCC teaches in the CCC is downright embarrassing.”
Really? Okay, let’s test it on your end of things: Do you profess to believe in the God of Abraham? I bet you do. That means you and Muslims agree on something. Are you embarrassed? I’m not.
“Then neither do you get to pass judgment and define what is or isn’t about a religion that isn’t yours.”
I only pass judgment on that and those who have passed judgment on the Church Christ established as a cult, false religion, and so on. If that isn’t you, then you’ve never seen me say it you. If you have, then the judgment was deserved.
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