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."
You profess to believe in the God of Abraham, right? So do Muslims. Nice “cult” you have there.
“And in regard to you showing me the scripture that says all truths are in scripture I can say the same thing to you.”
Well, you could, but it would be a false accusation, since I never claimed “all truths are in scripture”. That’s why I ignored your request. I won’t provide evidence for a claim I never made.
“profess”
You profess it too. You and the Muslims.
“But Roman Catholics DO worship Mary! This thread is absolutely gravid with examples!”
Not even one.
“I’m no projecting anything; all I’m doing is helping to point out the hypocrisy and apostasy of Roman Catholicism’s cult.”
You profess to believe in the God of Abraham, right? So the hypocrisy is all yours.
“And projecting is still an ugly thing.”
Then you should stop doing it.
“P.S. — do you agree with the CCC 841 or not? It’s easy: yes or no!”
Do you profess to believe in the God of Abraham? It’s easy: yes or no!”
I don’t believe in the same god as Muslims believe in. Catholics are obligated to believe they do as I understand it.
“Following your lead on this one. I’m still waiting to see if you ‘acknowledge’ and ‘adore’ the same “God” as the Muslims do since that is what is taught in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.”
Do you profess to believe in the God of Abraham? It’s easy: yes or no!
“Well, you could, but it would be a false accusation, since I never claimed “all truths are in scripture”.”
Oh, here we go with the sola scriptura waffle.
“That’s why I ignored your request. I won’t provide evidence for a claim I never made.”
No, you’ll just make other false claims, right?
“Oh, here we go with the sola scriptura waffle.”
It’s not my fault if you have a mistaken understanding of what “Sola Scriptura” means. That’s what happens when you go to Catholic blogs to find out about Protestant beliefs.
“I don’t believe in the same god as Muslims believe in.”
Muslims profess belief in the God of Abraham. Do you not profess belief in the God of Abraham?
It's actually pitiful -- and everyone here can see it -- that a simple question is posed and it is evaded, ducked, and will eventually no doubt, be ignored. For such a staunch defender of the Catholic faith, I would think it a simple thing to answer the question: Do you 'acknowledge' and 'adore' the same God as the Muslims do, as is taught in CCC 841?
Your turn. Yes or No.
Hoss
This has been answered -- CB and I believe in the God of the Bible. The God of Abraham -- Yahweh -- the Great "I AM"
Do YOU believe in God, or do you acknowledge and adore the same "God" as the Muslims as taught in the CCC?
Hint: the Muslims don't believe in Yahweh -- and Yahweh is the true God of Abraham.
There.. get it? So, do YOU acknowledge and adore the same "God" as the Muslims as taught in the CCC?
It's a simple question!
Yes, or no?
Hoss
“It’s not my fault if you have a mistaken understanding of what “Sola Scriptura” means.”
I had no mistaken notion at all. Your waffle is your dodge. It is not my misunderstanding.
“That’s what happens when you go to Catholic blogs to find out about Protestant beliefs.”
I’ve never done that. I simply read works by Mathison, King, Sproul, et al. a number of years ago. The lengths they went to in order to prop up a false 16th century doctrine that never once appears in scripture was amazing. Their works helped me realize how Protestant anti-Catholics wallow in mendacity and don’t even realize it. But of course they have to:
“To Protestantism False Witness is the principle of propagation. … Taking things as they are, and judging of them by the long run, one may securely say, that the anti-Catholic Tradition could not be kept alive, would die of exhaustion, without a continual supply of fable.” (John Henry Newman, Lecture 4. True Testimony Insufficient for the Protestant View)
“I don’t quite understand why you’re asking me this question — again — since it was answered upthread.”
Do you not profess belief in the God of Abraham? Yes or No.
I don’t know how to break this to you vlad, but what they profess and what is true are two different things. Also, the Catholic Church states that they, and you by decree, serve the same god as the Muslims. The problem Catholics are stuck with is that the Catholic Church simply claimed “together with us”. I don’t claim the serve the same God as I do. Your “church” does make that claim and since all Catholics are obligated to believe what the Catholic Church believes you are stuck with it.
“This has been answered — CB and I believe in the God of the Bible. The God of Abraham — Yahweh — the Great “I AM””
“I AM” only became known as such in Exodus 3. Abraham was long dead by that point. So, do profess belief in the God of Abraham? Yes or No.
“Do YOU believe in God, or do you acknowledge and adore the same “God” as the Muslims as taught in the CCC?”
Do YOU believe in the God of Abraham, or do you acknowledge and adore something other than the God of Abraham?
“Hint: the Muslims don’t believe in Yahweh — and Yahweh is the true God of Abraham.”
Hint: Muslims profess belief in the God of Abraham. Jews profess belief in the God of Abraham. Christians profess belief in the God of Abraham.
“There.. get it? So, do YOU acknowledge and adore the same “God” as the Muslims as taught in the CCC?”
There... get it? So, do YOU acknowledge and adore the God of Abraham?
“It’s a simple question!”
It’s a simple question!
“Yes, or no?”
Yes or no?
That's not the point vlad. Do you believe the Muslims serve the same God you do? Your "church" claims you do. Do you agree with your "church"?
I hear an echo.
So since you won't answer, I have to assume that you do acknowledge and adore the same God as the Muslims since you are a faithful Roman Catholic. I can only assume that based on your actions and lack of ability to answer a direct question.
This is why Roman Catholicism is a cult: When faced with truth and irrefutable evidence, Catholics stonewall, or parrot posts, or try circularizing the whole thread. Funny thing is people SEE this for what it is.
I've put to you a question regarding the teaching of your church. I'm asking - sincerely -- if you believe it. And you won't (or, maybe cannot) answer it without exposing the Catholic Church for the cult that it is. Or, I would think you would answer it.
I believe in the God of Abraham -- Yahweh -- Jehovah -- Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, creator of Heaven and earth. And I believe because He has opened my heart and given me the faith to do so.
Do YOU believe 841 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church which states:
841 The Church's relationship with the Muslims. "The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; 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."
Do you ACKNOWLEDGE the same Creator as the Musims? Do you, as a Catholic, along with the Muslims as stated above, ADORE the ONE MERCIFUL GOD? The same one merciful God that the Muslims adore?
Do YOU?
Now... here is the payoff. I answered your question to me just a few lines above. Now... for everyone to see, will you answer my questions? Or, will your lack of an answer shine as the embarrassment of faithful Catholics everywhere?
Hmm?
Hoss
.
Mary didn’t say yes, she was never asked anything.
She and Joseph were told how it was to be, and they had no choices. Had she rebelled, Yeshua still would have been born.
.
“I don’t know how to break this to you vlad, but what they profess and what is true are two different things.”
I don’t know how to break this to you cync, but that doesn’t change what they profess.
“Also, the Catholic Church states that they, and you by decree, serve the same god as the Muslims.”
Also, Jews, Muslims and Christians all profess to believe in the God of Abraham.
“The problem Catholics are stuck with is that the Catholic Church simply claimed “together with us”.”
The problem is that anti-Catholics are stuck with their own mendacity and simply can’t acknowledge that Christians profess belief in the God of Abraham if Muslims and Jews do too.
“I don’t claim the[y] serve the same God as I do.”
I know you don’t, but then you turn around and claim to serve the God of Abraham. Muslims claim to serve the God of Abraham.
“Your “church” does make that claim and since all Catholics are obligated to believe what the Catholic Church believes you are stuck with it.”
All Christians claim to serve the God of Abraham. Muslims and Jews also claim to serve the God of Abraham. You’re stuck with that. Do you know what that means?
“That’s not the point vlad.”
Yes, it is cync.
“Do you believe the Muslims serve the same God you do?”
Do you profess believe in the God of Abraham?
“Your “church” claims you do. Do you agree with your “church”?”
Again, do you profess to believe in the God of Abraham? Muslims do. Jews do.
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