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When Mary Said Yes

Pastor’s Column

4^th Sunday of Advent

December 21, 2014

When the Archangel Gabriel came to Mary to announce the good news of the coming birth of Jesus Christ, he first came to get her permission. Our entire future depended on her willingness to say “yes” to God at this moment. And she had to do this without fully knowing the consequences of her decision. It is true that Gabriel expresses in general terms to her the wonders that will follow Christ’s birth and makes it clear that she will be carrying the Son of God,. Yet remarkably, there is absolutely no mention made of trials and difficulties at this time.

In fact, all of us, when we make life choices, do not know the consequences of our decisions. We think of a couple about to get married. They take their vows: for better or for worse; in sickness and in health; for rich or for poor. We hope for the best, we make plans, but we simply do not know what life is going to hand us. This is also true, of course, for priests. We kneel before the bishop after ordination, and we place our hands in his and promise obedience to him and his successors. We don’t know who the successors are going to be; we don’t know what’s going to be asked of us; we’re giving the church a blank slate. This is the same as married couple gives to each other. In other words, it’s the same situation that Mary faced at this time.

There is a beautiful devotion that I love very much. It is the devotion to Our Lady of Czestochowa, otherwise known as the Black Madonna. Tradition holds that this icon was originally painted by St. Luke and has a long and interesting history. Of course, Mary’s skin color was not originally painted black, as we see it today, but instead it became black through constant exposure of candles burning underneath the icon over the centuries. Even during all the years of communist rule, the shrine was always active.

At one point in its history, the monastery and shrine were sacked and the icon was carried off as booty. The invaders slashed Mary’s face. When she was returned to the shrine, restorers did their best to cover up the scratches. Yet despite all efforts, the scratches kept coming back.

There is so much to learn from this image! Can God possibly be saying something to us in this? Mary is not simply someone who had a vision of an angel and lived happily ever after. When she said yes to God, she also said yes to whatever sufferings God permitted in her life. And she never stops saying yes. I imagine that her message to the people of Poland, and to us in this image is simply this: When you were oppressed, and you pray to me, I suffer with you in addition to praying for you. I bear the scars of my suffering even in heaven, as you will. Sufferings you bore for Christ in this life are your glory. There is no greater gift that you can give someone that to suffer with them out of love. This is why you cannot erase scratches. Mary invites us, then, to realize that every suffering we go through for having said yes to God has an eternal gift of glory in heaven!

Father Gary

Reflections from Scott Hahn

The Mystery Kept Secret: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fourth Sunday in Advent

Posted by Dr. Scott Hahn on 12.17.14 |

annunciation botticelli

Readings
2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-11,16
Psalm 89:2-5,27,29
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38

What is announced to Mary in today’s Gospel is the revelation of all that the prophets had spoken. It is, as Paul declares in today’s Epistle, the mystery kept secret since before the foundation of the world (see Ephesians 1:9; 3:3-9).

Mary is the virgin prophesied to bear a son of the house of David (see Isaiah 7:13-14). And nearly every word the angel speaks to her today evokes and echoes the long history of salvation recorded in the Bible.

Mary is hailed as the daughter Jerusalem, called to rejoice that her king, the Lord God, has come into her midst as a mighty savior (see Zephaniah 3:14-17).

The One whom Mary is to bear will be Son of “the Most High” - an ancient divine title first used to describe the God of the priest-king Melchizedek, who brought out bread and wine to bless Abraham at the dawn of salvation history (see Genesis 14:18-19).

He will fulfill the covenant God makes with His chosen one, David, in today’s First Reading. As we sing in today’s Psalm, He will reign forever as highest of the kings of the earth, and He will call God, “my Father.” As Daniel saw the Most High grant everlasting dominion to the Son of Man (see Daniel 4:14; 7:14), His kingdom will have no end.

He is to rule over the house of Jacob - the title God used in making His covenant with Israel at Sinai (see Exodus 19:3), and again used in promising that all nations would worship the God of Jacob (see Isaiah 2:1-5).

Jesus has been made known, Paul says today, to bring all nations to the obedience of faith. We are called with Mary today, to marvel at all that the Lord has done throughout the ages for our salvation. And we too, must respond to this annunciation with humble obedience - that His will be done, that our lives be lived according to His word.