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."

[Elsie]

Do not badger another Freeper time and again with the same question.

Thanks for the reminder...

[af_vet_1981]

No.. I rejected the misinterpretation foisted upon by the Catholic Cult. Again, nice try. Strike 2 Hoss

False

Read my post carefully. I posted the King James Version.

[DungeonMaster]

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

And in none of your examples did "blessed are you among women" translate to co mediator, co redeemer, immaculately conceived, ever virgin, dispenser of all graces, queen of heaven, yadda yadda yadda. That is my point though your point that blessed has many uses is true.

[HossB86]

False

Read my post carefully. I posted the King James Version.

Yes, you did. But you used the Roman misinterpretation of it.

Strike 3. You're done.

Take care.

Hoss

[verga]

I speak English

Sadly for the prots the Gospels were mainly written in Koine Greek, and much is lost in the translation to the dull and ignorant.

[CynicalBear]

>>“No one comes to the Father except through me”.....etc. But the “me” here is His Church.<<

What??? Placing the "church" in the place of Christ? That's utter blasphemy!

[af_vet_1981]

>>False Read my post carefully. I posted the King James Version.>>

Yes, you did. But you used the Roman misinterpretation of it. Strike 3. You're done. Take care. Hoss

False; you rejected the King James Version and used some unattributed version. Being a baseball fan does not make one an impartial referee nor a workman who rightly divides the word of truth. What Protestant derived farm team do you root for that you have cast away the King James Authorized Version ?

[af_vet_1981]

In your post 587 you did attribute the King James Version which I posted as belonging to a cult. You wrote "Try a better translation -- it would help you -- instead of what the Catholic Cult "writes" --- "Acts, Catholic chapter seventeen" "What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you." God is not a "what" -- God is "He."

Yet you insist you knew that I posted the King James Version in your post where you wrote: Yes, you did. But you used the Roman misinterpretation of it."

Therefore, since you avow that you know I posted the KJV, and you called it posted another unattributed version which conflicts with the KJV, you have rejected the KJV, attributed the KJV to what you termed "what the Catholic Cult "writes" --- "Acts, Catholic chapter seventeen"."

In 584 I posted:

Paul wrote, by your assent under inspiration of the Holy Spirit that they were worshiping God in ignorance; are you now denying the scripture ? :

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
Acts, Catholic chapter seventeen, Protestant verse twenty three,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James

[HossB86]

It's funny you castigate me for using the ESV instead of the KJV... when the translation accepted by your cult says the following for Acts 17:23:

23] For passing by, and seeing your idols, I found an altar also, on which was written: To the unknown God. What therefore you worship, without knowing it, that I preach to you:
Douay-Rheims Translation

What... not who. And regardless of the semantics, the Athenians were worshipping an UNKNOWN god... probably referring to the twelve altars, including one to the "unknown god" so that they didn't feel as if they had left anyone out. Remember up thread when I reminded you that the Athenians were polytheistic?

So, when Paul saw it, he took the opportunity to preach the Gospel to them. Just as others on this thread are trying to do for you and the other cultists here: preach to you the Gospel, the only true Gospel of Christ... not the lies and pap of the Roman Catholic Church.

BTW, you never did address the inconsistency between 1 Timothy 2:5 and CCC 969. One mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ -- NO ONE ELSE. Why does your cult teach that there is another mediator/mediatrix?

Until you manage to get that one untangled for me, I'm not putting any faith in anything you post. Start there and lets work forward.

Hoss

[HossB86]

If you refer to something as Catholic, with a capital C, it’s “cultic”.

The KJV is fine. So is the ESV. So are many other translations. The KJV is a beautiful translation but causes issues with its use of old english and the confusion that breeds (as is evident in your reading of it). I like the ESV because it’s a word-for-word, thought-for-thought translation that is easier to read and understand without trying to remember the old english definition of words and terms that vary with those used today.

Instead of twisting things off topic, why not address the issues? Dodge and weave; I see it a lot here.

Try something new... like answering a straight-forward question I posed to you. Or not. If not, I have my answer. If so, maybe I can learn and maybe you can convince me of the error of my opinion of your Church.

Hoss

[af_vet_1981]

It's funny you castigate me for using the ESV instead of the KJV... when the translation accepted by your cult says the following for Acts 17:23:

Only now you name it "ESV," after I called out the false attribution to the KJV. It may be funny to you; I find your comments uninspired and uninspiring. The entire thread and issue may be a joke or entertainment to you but I find it a waste of time treating with an "Internet Theologian" unwilling to shine the light of truth on the faith community, sect, or cult do he affiliates.

[HossB86]

Try re-reading MY posts. I agreed that you posted from the KJV. My issue was the Catholic interpretation put to it.

I quoted back to you from the ESV. Then I proceeded to answer your accusation that I rejected the KJV. Show me where I used the word rejected.

Then, I attempted to explain that I like the KJV as well as the ESV and why I use the ESV.

I'd appreciate a little accuracy here.

Now. Can you, instead of deflecting, answer my question to you as to why the Roman Catholic Church refutes God in CCC 969 my claiming Mary as "medatrix" when God's inspired word in 1 Timothy 2:5 states there is ONE mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ?

How do untangle that? If you can, we'll continue. Otherwise, see ya.

Hoss

[Mrs. Don-o]

In mine at 374, practically any of the meanings of "Blessed" would fit with "Mary," ---- and ought to, since she herself said we would call her "Blessed." The only meanings that cannot fit are the ones that can apply to God alone.

If you would care to look at the prayers recited at the Mass--- in particular Nicene Creed, the Gloria, or the Sanctus --- you will see the kinds of titles or acclamations suitable for God alone: God as absolutely supreme and source of all that exists.

(Most of my posts contain links, and rarely do I see any evidence that anybody has actually gone to the links and learned something. But --- God being my witness--- I keep trying.)

Let's go through your list one by one:

Co mediator - I have never in my life called Mary "co-mediator". This term (or similar) is problematic because it invites misunderstanding: it could have both a doctrinally sound interpretation, and a heretical interpretation. It is not a dogma of the Church and has always been controversial within the Church (because it depends on how you interpret it.).

The sound interpretation would be that she intercedes, just as we all intercede for each other. A reference to her as Mother of Our Savior who offers intercessory prayers for us is the only correct understanding. The term "Mediatrix' is used only once in an official Church document, to my knowledge ---Lumen gentium --- and there it had this explanation:

"This, however, is to be so understood that it neither takes away from nor adds anything to the dignity and efficaciousness of Christ the one Mediator."

In this sense, I can call you a mediator -- if you would be so good as to pray for me.

Co redeemer - the exact same things I said about “Co-Mediator” apply to this, i.e. it is not a dogma of the Church, I have never used it, it invites heretical interpretation, and it has always been controversial in the Church. For instance, in the Middle Ages, Franciscans were for it, Dominicans were against it. They used to debate it at the University of Paris: as I remember, the controversy got so rancorous that eventually the University rectors barred further argument and the term fell into disuse.

As Ott’s “Dogmatics” summarizes --- quoting St. Ambrose-- “the Passion of Christ did not need any assistance.”

Immaculately conceived - Kecharitomene. That’s got deep Biblical roots. I would trace it all the way back to Genesis 3:15 --- the woman with the pure Seed, our Savior Jesus Christ, who would defeat the Satanic serpent. If He is her Seed, she would have to be pure as He is pure, since He has His human nature from her.

Ever virgin - Ever-virgin is evidently what Mary intended to be. There’s no reason for her to say “How can this (conceiving a child) be, since I know not man?” ---if she thought she were soon to be “knowing” with Joseph! Plus, Scripture reveals that “her other children” means, Christian believers (Revelation 12:17 - “Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.”)

Dispenser of all graces - synonym for “Co-Mediator” and the same comments apply: Not a dogma, not defined, could be interpreted one way or another. I consider it problematic for those reasons.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 967-970 says, "No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways among his creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source."

Queen of heaven - See relevant discussion on Queenship. It would be profitable for you to use your Concordance and look up all the OT verses on Queenship which prefigure Mary. All Scripture is good for teaching (2 Timothy 3:16).

Yadda yadda yadda - Since you concede my point that "blessed has many uses is true,” why don’t you use it in its proper sense when you talk or write about Mary? God evidently wants you to: it's part of Biblical prophecy.

[boatbums]

I believe you are quite correct. It WILL take an act of God to shake loose the blindness and hypocrisy of some here. Sadly, though, it may not happen until it is too late to remedy their fallen state.

[boatbums]

We should always try to keep in mind that there is a small contingent here who only delights in setting traps, parsing words and senseless badgering, all with the intent to condemn opponents personally so that they can skip having to defend their faulty doctrines and ideas - which they already know are indefensible. One thing they do that we can rely on is they consistently act that way no matter how many times they have been exposed.

[HossB86]

Sage advice and true. Yet, I would for the world once like to hear an honest response — their position IS indefensible... I’d like to hear an admission of that. But sadly, that just won’t happen short of The Lord changing their hearts and saving them.

Thanks for the reminder.

Hoss

[metmom]

YOUR pope kissing the koran. Fits right in with YOUR Catechism of the Catholic church.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM

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

Your church admits to worshiping together with the muslims, the same God..

Now the question becomes, "Is believing the CCC and assent to its proclamations, optional for the Catholic?"

[metmom]

There’s a difference between knowing about God and knowing God.

Theology tells us about God.

It doesn’t be default mean knowing God.

If people would be willing to quit hanging on to their theology and start hanging on to Jesus, they’d be in way better shape.

I doubt He’s going to be giving us a theology exam for entrance into heaven. Jesus promises that all who come to HIM, He will never cast out.

Relationship takes precedent over religion.

[DungeonMaster]

1. It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her that he must reign in the world.

3. In answer to her prayers to remain hidden, poor and lowly, God was pleased to conceal her from nearly every other human creature in her conception, her birth, her life, her mysteries, her resurrection and assumption. Her own parents did not really know her; and the angels would often ask one another, "Who can she possibly be?", for God had hidden her from them, or if he did reveal anything to them, it was nothing compared with what he withheld.

5. Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God and he has reserved the knowledge and possession of her for himself. She is the glorious Mother of God the Son who chose to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her humility. He called her "Woman" as if she were a stranger, although in his heart he esteemed and loved her above all men and angels. Mary is the sealed fountain and the faithful spouse of the Holy Spirit where only he may enter. She is the sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else in the universe, not excluding his dwelling above the cherubim and seraphim. No creature, however pure, may enter there without being specially privileged.

[Mrs. Don-o]

All of this sounds both unfamiliar and over-the-top to me. Where did you get it? Is there a link?