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."
After all, I paid good money for this Thorazine ....
Happy Easter, everybody.
Evidence HAS been presented; it's now up to the Lurker Jury to decide.
It's just before dawn here in central Indiana.
I can see the cross I've placed in my yard, along the road, is empty.
If I am lucky (or blessed or saved or heaven-bound) the grave will be found empty as well...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0MIFHLIzZY
Oh I have. I have been researching the errors of Vatican II for a couple of years now. I have found no Traditional Catholic teaching to support Nostra Aetate nor Lumen Gentium regarding Islam and Muslims (although I have found much to contradict NA and LG).
The point was to have you offer up the Traditional Catholic support since you're the one who is so sure that Lumen Gentium and Nostra Aetate do not teach novelties regarding the Muslim religion. But I see you don't have any such support either. And that's all I really needed to know...thank you.
“I think if one had been paying attention one would have noticed that was a post by mad dawg, not me.”
Are you saying you disagree with it then? It was posted on YOUR profile page.
“Well why wouldn’t they when they have such shining Catholic exemplars hurling abuse at them in a constant barrage?”
Constant barrage? Legatus I barely post at FR anymore. Yesterday I posted a total of 9 posts to a total of 4 people. You characterize that as a barrage? How is 9 posts in 24 hours a barrage or constant? You posted 5 posts yesterday and all but one was primarily addressed to me. So you posted twice as much to me as I posted to you. Again, “constant barrage”?
And by the way, do you believe for a single second, that the anti-Catholics here will actually stop hating the Catholic faith by you agreeing with them that they’re right to hate it? You actually told them that the CCC was wrong. Notice how they were patting you on the back for agreeing with them? And yet you wrote a post about “treating fellow freepers like things or opportunities to stroke their own egos”? Kettle. Pot.
“What does that kind of Catholicism have to offer ANYBODY?”
TRUTH. Legatus, do you believe in truth? Seriously, do you?
“Oh I have. I have been researching the errors of Vatican II for a couple of years now.”
Well, if you regard it as error, then you’re already closing yourself off to any evidence anyway. Thanks for stating that fact now so I don’t waste my time jawing back-and-forth with you over things you’ll never probably agree with no matter what.
Join your anti-Catholic buddies in denouncing the Church. I’m sure that’s easier than actually thinking.
Still no support, huh?
Yes, Amen.
“Still no support, huh?”
Still unable to use google, huh?
I already stated I researched and found nothing. Show me your intellectual prowess.
“I already stated I researched and found nothing.”
I have no reason to believe you according to what you’ve posted.
“Show me your intellectual prowess.”
I have no reason to believe you want to learn.
I have no reason to believe that you really think you can find support. Because there is none.
“I have no reason to believe that you really think you can find support.”
That’s fine. You can continue to agree with anti-Catholics.
“Because there is none.”
So you falsely claim. Your posts seem to indicate you’ve never even looked into the issue. Can you even attempt a reconciliation between the two apparent views? Can you even accurately state what they are?
Nope. You’re the one who claims it is not novel. You need to prove that it is not novel. Since you claim this has always been the teaching of the Church, this should be easy to find.
Until you find your support, I have nothing more to say to you.
Have a Happy Easter.
“Nope. You’re the one who claims it is not novel.”
You’re the one siding with anti-Catholics against your Church.
“You need to prove that it is not novel.”
Nope. I’ll just let you sit with the scoffers.
“Since you claim this has always been the teaching of the Church, this should be easy to find.”
You really can’t even state the two views can you?
“Until you find your support, I have nothing more to say to you.”
Right, I mention you can’t even state the two views and you run away. Now we know who really knows what.
“Have a Happy Easter.”
You too. God forgives even those who side with enemies of the Catholic faith against their own Church.
[Altered so I can’t falsely be accused of “mind reading”]
“Nope. You’re the one who claims it is not novel.”
You’re the one siding with anti-Catholics against your Church.
“You need to prove that it is not novel.”
Nope. I’ll just let you sit with the scoffers.
“Since you claim this has always been the teaching of the Church, this should be easy to find.”
You really can’t even state the two views can you?
“Until you find your support, I have nothing more to say to you.”
Right, I mention you can’t even state the two views and you leave.
“Have a Happy Easter.”
You too. God forgives even those who side with enemies of the Catholic faith against their own Church.
Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
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