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."
They do end up in rather tenuous positions don't they.
“Muslims don’t! Their “God of Abraham” is not THE God of Abraham.”
Is the God of Abraham a Trinity of Divine Persons? If so, then doesn’t that mean - according to your logic - that Jews never believed in THE God of Abraham?
It seems to me you are denying Mary is the mother of Immanuel. Just to clarify, do you confess that Mary the mother of Immanuel ?
“I do NOT profess to believe in the same god of Abraham that the Muslims profess.”
Yes, but DO YOU PROFESS to believe in the God of Abraham at all? Also, do Jews believe in “same god of Abraham” you might profess to believe in if they deny that the God of Abraham is a Trinity of Divine Persons?
“I profess the one true God of Abraham of scripture.”
And is that God of Abraham you profess belief in a Trinity of Divine Persons?
“Why are you so afraid to agree or disagree with you “church”?”
I’m not. Are you afraid to admit that Jews do not believe in the Trinity as Christians do but both groups say they believe in the God of Abraham?
Mary is the mother of Jesus Christ, who, yes, was called “Immanuel” in an Old Testament prophecy. If you are trying to use that to justify the title “Mother of God”, then I think that is a pretty far stretch.
Good, you confess that Mary is the mother of Immanuel. Do you also confess that Immanuel is scripturually interpreted as "God with us?" Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Isaiah, Catholic chapter seven, Protestant verse fourteen,
Matthew, Catholic chapter one, Protestant verses twenty two to twenty three,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James
I’m not playing your games, I’ve given you my opinion, take it as you will.
vlad, go back and read my post again.
It is no game, but the inspired scripture which many here profess to believe. Since I have your consent to take your response as I will, I will take it as from one who has seen the truth but is unwilling to admit it. This reminds me of what occurred in the miracle of the man born blind in the book of John.
“vlad, go back and read my post again.”
Muslims PROFESS to believe in the God of Abraham.
Jews PROFESS to believe in the God of Abraham.
Christians PROFESS to believe in the God of Abraham. Only Christians believe the God of Abraham to be a Trinity of Divine Persons.
Are you a liberal journalist? Nice cherry pick. Here... let me add the rest of the story for you (by the way, this is called "in context)
By this question, are you insinuating that God, before Exodus 3 was somehow not the same eternal God that names himself IN Exodus 3? If so, you may not actually believe in the one true living God; if so, I pity you. I believe in the God of Abraham. In Exodus 3 and before. And after. Yahweh is the same God, eternal, and unchanging. Do YOU believe in him? Or do you believe in the same "God" as the Muslims in CCC 841? Do you 'acknowledge' and 'adore' the same "God" the Muslims do in CCC841?
Now then. The entire answer is there, not just the part you wanted. Now. Muslims do NOT believe in the same God as Jews and Christians. How on earth do you get this? How? Is not the God of Abraham also the Father of Jesus Christ? Unchanging and everlasting? Muslims do NOT believe that Jesus is the Son of God. So how do YOU manage to extrapolate that they believe in the same God as Jews and Christians? By the very teaching in the Koran it's obvious that their God, "Allah" is made from whole cloth and is no way the God of Christianity or Judaism.
I'm stunned that you would utter such bilge.
Now this is the MOST hilarious and sad part of your posting:
Thus you cannot logically disagree with CCC 841. You can only make what is a thoroughly mendacious argument to the contrary. By your admission you have shown that you and Muslims agree.
My actual answer in no way assents to that in the least; however, the part you chose to include in YOUR posting might appear to do what you say. However, you only chose to include a part of my answer. That seems to me to be an intent to obfuscate the issue. So again: are you a liberal journalist?
I in no way agree with the Muslims. However, your CCC does. And it, by extension, requires you to agree as well. Which means, sadly, you agree with the position that Roman Catholics do not worship the God of Christianity, but the "God" of Islam.
Jews believe in the same Yahweh Christians do; they just don't believe the Messiah has come yet. Simple enough for you? Muslims (and apparently Catholics) do NOT believe in the same God of Abraham. It's that Old Testament/New Testament thing versus the Koran. You might look into it.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- and this time, it's even more sad -- how I do pity you. I'm serious. My heart breaks for you. You repost what what I ask, and try childishly to turn it into some sort of gotcha instead of just answering the question. It's the seemingly Roman Catholic version of "Im rubber and you're glue -- whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you!!! Neener neener!"
Sorry Vlad. I graduated from that form of logic back in elementary school. I wish you would. I wish you could actually answer the simple question I asked. I really do. Your soul's eternity depends on it.
Hoss
It certainly is a game, where you are trying to play the role of inquisitor, asking people to make confessions. I’m not interested in playing, so have fun with yourself I suppose.
I wanna see this “Rad Sea” you’re talking about. Bet the waves are truly gnarly. :)
Gee, doesn’t it go that if you don’t openly agree with your own church, that you must be ashamed of it?
That's exactly what I take from this.
Dude... tasty waves!
:D
Hoss
He’s not Catholic.
You are.
Aren’t YOU going to openly profess what your own church teaches?
You are obligated.
Well, that’s my choice, too.
Why don’t we just keep the money since we’ll all be winners anyway. We’ll only be getting it back.
Sounds like a plan to me.
Hoss
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