Because Mary Said “Yes…” — A Reflection For The Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lord

SaltAndDignity ^ | March 25, 2015 | Fr. Thomas Rosica

[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."

[vladimir998]

“Dude, it’s not working. You’re not “arguing” — you’re “contradicting” — now, give you dad back the keyboard. It’s supper time.”

You profess to believe in the God of Abraham. So do Muslims.

Enjoy.

[CynicalBear]

A pathetic obfuscation is what I would call it.

[Elsie]

Once again, not a single one of the quotes you posted even hinted at any Catholic worshiping Mary.

For the umpteenth time you've shown what a bombastic poster you are.

Baghdad Bob would be proud!

[HossB86]

Nope. I don't. Never have. But your church teaches this. And if you're Catholic, then you must believe it.

I believe in THE God of Abraham. Muslims do not. They "profess" that Allah is the God of Abraham. Do YOU believe that? Your CCC tells you to.

So, now with a little bit of "Vlad Snark..."

YOU enjoy.

Tell your dad to come back to the keyboard. You bother me, kid.

Hoss

[HossB86]

bombastic

Well, that's *one* way to describe his postings.

:D

Hoss

[vladimir998]

“For the umpteenth time you’ve shown what a bombastic poster you are.”

Better than bearing false witness - which is what you do every time you claim we worship Mary.

Not a single one of the quotes you posted even hinted that anyone worshiped Mary. There is a huge difference between a quote that talks about what Mary does for us and your false claims that we worship Mary.

“To Protestantism False Witness is the principle of propagation.” (John Henry Newman, Lecture 4. True Testimony Insufficient for the Protestant View)

[Iscool]

“You can’t include Jews in the mix...”

I did. It’s done.

Sorry, you haven't moved the Jews a millimeter...They are right where God put them...Which is not where you think they are...

[Elsie]

Thus you cannot logically disagree with CCC 841.

 

HMMMmmm...

Izzat so???

 

 

 

 

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."³³⁰

 

 

 

 

 

Who IS the Creator??

 

John 1:3

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

Colossians 1:16

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.

 

1 Corinthians 8:6

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

 

John 1:10

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

 

 

It appears that Jesus is the Creator.

 

 

 

Now then; what does Islam think about Jesus?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_in_Islam

 

 

 

Well now!  It appears that the 'creator' is NOT Jesus in Islam.

I guess CCC 841 CAN be logically disagreed with after all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[vladimir998]

“Nope. I don’t.”

So you not profess to believe in the God of Abraham?

But you also said, “I believe in THE God of Abraham.”

Then you profess to believe in the God of Abraham. So do Muslims. So do Jews.

Enjoy.

“You bother me, kid.”

You are bothered by the truth apparently. You and Muslims both profess belief in the God of Abraham. Hoss and Muslims agree on something.

[Elsie]

If you are trying to use that to justify the title “Mother of God”, then I think that is a pretty far stretch.

They need a LOT less than this to 'justify' a lot of their practices.

[vladimir998]

“Sorry, you haven’t moved the Jews a millimeter...”

I didn’t move them. I included them. They don’t have to move for that to happen.

[vladimir998]

You profess to believe in the God of Abraham.

So do Muslims.

[Elsie]

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.

NOW we have another example of a Catholic filling the void with whatever emanates from their abundant heart.

At least it can't be called mind-reading.

But putting words into another's mouth might come purty close to describing it though.

[Elsie]

I see...

[Elsie]

I hate typing on an iPad......

...oh the places you will go...

[Elsie]

This is an EMOTIONAL game.

Trying to get any logic to function in it is a fool’s errand.

[Elsie]

And there's no reason not to call Mary Bessed.

I think there is a GOOD reason not to call her that: she won't ANSWER!

[Iscool]

“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)

Isn't this the guy whose wife and bed mate was a man??? You think God would grant him any knowledge or wisdom???

[Elsie]

Better than bearing false witness - which is what you do every time you claim we worship Mary.

Faulty memory is what you are showing here.

Unless you can link to a post where I said you WORSHIPPED her.

[Elsie]

You profess to believe in the God of Abraham.

Hebrews 11 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

1 Now faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not.

² For by this the ancients obtained a testimony.

³ By faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God; that from invisible things visible things might be made.

⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice exceeding that of Cain, by which he obtained a testimony that he was just, God giving testimony to his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

⁵ By faith Henoch was translated, that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had testimony that he pleased God.

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and is a rewarder to them that seek him.

⁷ By faith Noe, having received an answer concerning those things which as yet were not seen, moved with fear, framed the ark for the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world; and was instituted heir of the justice which is by faith.

⁸ By faith he that is called Abraham, obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

⁹ By faith he abode in the land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs of the same promise.

¹⁰ For he looked for a city that hath foundations; whose builder and maker is God.

¹¹ By faith also Sara herself, being barren, received strength to conceive seed, even past the time of age; because she believed that he was faithful who had promised,

¹² For which cause there sprung even from one (and him as good as dead) as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

¹³ All these died according to faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them afar off, and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrims and strangers on the earth.

¹⁴ For they that say these things, do signify that they seek a country.

¹⁵ And truly if they had been mindful of that from whence they came out, they had doubtless time to return.

¹⁶ But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered Isaac: and he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son;

¹⁸ (To whom it was said: In Isaac shall thy seed be called.)

¹⁹ Accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Whereupon also he received him for a parable.

²⁰ By faith also of things to come, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.

²¹ By faith Jacob dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and adored the top of his rod.

²² By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the going out of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents; because they saw he was a comely babe, and they feared not the king's edict.

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was grown up, denied himself to be the son of Pharao's daughter;

²⁵ Rather choosing to be afflicted with the people of God, than to have the pleasure of sin for a time,

²⁶ Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of the Egyptians. For he looked unto the reward.

²⁷ By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the fierceness of the king: for he endured as seeing him that is invisible.

²⁸ By faith he celebrated the pasch, and the shedding of the blood; that he, who destroyed the firstborn, might not touch them.

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting, were swallowed up.

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, by the going round them seven days.

³¹ By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, receiving the spies with peace.

³² And what shall I yet say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, Barac, Samson, Jephthe, David, Samuel, and the prophets:

³³ Who by faith conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

³⁴ Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners:

³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again. But others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection.

³⁶ And others had trial of mockeries and stripes, moreover also of bands and prisons.

³⁷ They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted:

³⁸ Of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens, and in caves of the earth.

³⁹ And all these being approved by the testimony of faith, received not the promise;

⁴⁰ God providing some better thing for us, that they should not be perfected without us.