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 Marys 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 Gods 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 angels message, we also reflect on our own vocation our own calling from God. In the Lords Prayer, we pray, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven an echo of Marys Be it done unto me according to your word.
Each time we commit ourselves to embracing Gods 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 angels message over and over again in her heart. From the manger to the cross, Marys life was radically changed her relationship with God profoundly deepened the moment she said Yes.
Mary received and welcomed Gods 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 cant 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 Gods 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."
While I said I was done,
you did not do what you wrote you would do, thus impeaching your witness
I could not let this blasphemous post
False
stand unrefuted. And hopefully, this, coming from someone who actually KNOWS something about Islam,
You already testified that you have read the Koran
will help you understand something that the rest of us, somehow, have figured out:
Try reading: http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/god.htm
The Note To Reader at the bottom of the explanation at that link says it all: "NOTE TO THE READER
We are well aware that the name Allah is used by Arab speaking Christians for the God of the Bible. In fact, the root from which the name is derived, ilah, stems from the ancient Semitic languages, corresponding to the Mesopotamian IL, as well as the Hebrew-Aramaic EL, as in Ishma-el, Immanu-el, Isra-el. These terms were often used to refer to any deity worshiped as a high god, especially the chief deity amongst a pantheon of lesser gods. As such, the Holy Bible uses the term as just one of the many titles for Yahweh, the only true God.
I have already explained how both Hebrew and Arabic combine "El" and "Allah" with another word in their respective language to form a "name" of God (there are almost twenty such in Hebrew and reportedly 99 in Arabic).
Are you also aware that Christians called "the God" of Abraham "Allah" before Islam ?
Yet the problem arises from the fact that Muslims insist that Allah is not a title, but the personal name of the God of Islam. This becomes problematic since according to the Holy Bible the name of the God of Abraham is Yahweh/Jehovah, not Allah:
God spoke further to Moses and said to him, "I am Yahweh (YHVH) and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty; BUT BY MY NAME, YAHWEH, I did not make myself known to them." Exodus 6:2-3 Therefore, Christians can use Allah as a title or a generic noun for the true God, but not as the personal name for the God of the Holy Bible."
"Allah" is not Yahweh. Muslims do not worship Yahweh in any way, shape, or form. Try going to the link and read. Note that I didn't have to make anyone Google it --
I already pointed out to you at least twice, with explanation, that "Allah" is the Arabic equivalent for the Hebrew "El/Elohim," albeit with a definite article to signify it is "the" only one God. Furthermore, the Moslems themselves say this is "The God" of Moses and that the name in Hebrew which God gave to Moses is the name of God, whose pronunciation has been forgotten and shrouded in mystery for over two millennia.
Seriously. Muslims don't worship the one, true, Living God in ignorance. They worship a FALSE god they call Allah.
By these comments you called the God of Abraham (and Moses) a False god.
With that, square CCC 841 to the truth.
Hoss
Gladly, the Moslems worship and adore the one true God, the God of Abraham, albeit in serious error; akin to the Samaritans but even further astray, akin to the Athenians, but they testify He is "The God" of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and all the Jewish prophets, including Jesus.
**Case closed. With that stunning comment of yours you render the rest of your post meaningless.**
Am I surprised of another classy statement, designed to avoid answering questions? Just like the one sided argument about whether you worship Allah or not. You seem to demand to ask the questions, but not answer any. The little or no use of scripture is always to your disadvantage. Yet, you appear to insist on maintaining that procedure.
**Ooooohhhh, you mean He responded to Marys intercession? Youre the one who just called her plea to Jesus about the wine a prayer.**
Call it intercession, or a request, or a panic attack, or whatever you want, I’m convinced that (since neither of us were present) neither of us REALLY know. She witnessed the situation to the ONE who ALREADY knew the situation. She had NO IDEA how Jesus would handle it. He RESPONDED to the NEED of them ALL. Just like the loaves and the fishes, I believe that Jesus made enough that there was wine for everybody, and some left over.
Yes, that is my presumption, Just like yours of painting the scenario in such a way that Mary was ONLY concerned for keeping the wedding hosts from losing face. And from that basis, even today you pray to her (A LOT!), who is asleep in Christ, and give her titles that are not at all scriptural.
Jesus’ response to her was well worded, as he knew in the future, goddess worshippering people would be elevating Mary in a mix of Christianity and paganism.
His properly worded reply to her (would you say it wasn’t?) was not much more respectful than the one he made to the woman of Canaan (Matt. 15:21-28. By the way, do you pray to the ‘woman from Canaan’?). The reason is this: God is no respecter of persons.
To Mary: “Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.”
To the woman from Canaan: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. Matt. 15:24
**Thats another error of yours right there. Go back and check the posts.**
List them. USE scripture to prove your judgement. Otherwise you are just making presumptions and unsubstantiated claims.
(now switching gears)
HE IS RISEN!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!!
**Some catholics here do demonstrate a modicum of understanding of how and why Yeshua died for the sins of men, but nevertheless, they still insist on injecting humanism between themselves and Yeshua.**
So true!
God bless!
“Am I surprised of another classy statement, designed to avoid answering questions?”
Your questions were completely irrelevant. Here, I’ll show you. I will respond to most of your irrelevant questions with questions that show they are irrelevant in their very form. Here are your questions:
Question 1: The Nonsensical:
1) “So, If you die tomorrow, and a police officer is planning on giving me a traffic ticket, are you saying that you can STILL help me out?”
My response: Are you saying prayers before God can’t help with something mundane?
Questions 2-4: Your apparent dodge when you got caught out about misrepresenting what “with” means:
2) “And thats one of the word power means to help build Mary up in importance. Did the centurion intercede with Jesus to heal his servant?”
My response: Are you saying he didn’t? Luke 7:3.
3) “Did Abraham intercede with God to spare Lot?”
My Response: Did you read Genesis 18:22-19:29?
4) “Did Moses intercede with God to spare Israel from being consumed by Gods wrath?”
My response: Did you read Deuteronomy 9 and Exodus 32? Are you saying Moses didn’t intercede?
“To me, it is all under this category: Let your requests be made known unto God.”
It doesn’t matter what categories you invent. Nothing you say or invent changes what is.
Question 5: The Question which shows a lack of knowledge to say the least:
“But you guys are basically joined at the hip anyway, right?”
Nope.
So there. I posted a response to every one of your meaningless questions I originally skipped over in that last part of your post and you know what? Your questions were meaningless just like I said they were. They are all useless, silly questions. Some are sheer repetition. Some have nothing to do with what we’re even talking about or are irrelevant to the import of what we were talking about. Like I said, the rest of your post was meaningless. This proves it.
“Call it intercession, or a request, or a panic attack, or whatever you want”
YOU called it a prayer. Now you’ll have to live with it.
“List them.”
No. Read the posts.
“USE scripture to prove your judgement.”
I used more scripture in this post than you used in your last post. And, unlike you did earlier on, I actually used verses that actually worked with the issue at hand.
“Otherwise you are just making presumptions and unsubstantiated claims.”
Just remember, YOU said Mary’s intercession was a PRAYER.
Have a great Easter (knowing Mary’s intercession was a PRAYER according to your own words).
I like it when Catholic folks say things that they believe about Mary!
Bonaventure: the gates of heaven will open to all who confide in the protection of Mary. Blessed are they who know thee, O Mother of God, for the knowledge of THEE is the high road to everlasting life, and the publication of thy virtues is the way of ETERNAL SALVATION . Give ear, O ye nations; and all you who desire heaven , serve, honor Mary, and certainly you will find ETERNAL LIFE.
Ephem: devotion to the divine Mother is the unlocking of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Blosius: To the, O Lady, are committed the KEYS and the treasures of the kingdom of Heaven.
Ambrose: constantly pray Open to us, O Mary, the gates of paradise, since thou hast its KEYS.
Fulgetius: by Mary God descended from Heaven into the world, that by HER man might ascend from earth to Heaven.
Athanasius: And, thou, O Lady, wast filled with grace, that thou mightiest be the way of our SALVATION and the means of ascent to the heavenly Kingdom.
Richard of Laurence: Mary, in fine, is the mistress of heaven; for there she commands as she wills, and ADMITS whom she wills.
Guerric: he who serves Mary and for whom she intercedes, is as CERTAIN of heaven as if he were already there and those who DO NOT serve Mary will NOT BE SAVED.
Anselm: It suffices, O Lady, that thou willest it, and our SALVATION is certain.
Antoninus:
souls protected by Mary, and on which she casts her eyes, are NECESSARILY JUSTIFIED AND SAVED.
So you admit it's abuse?
And by the way, do you believe for a single second, that the anti-Catholics here will actually stop hating the Catholic faith by you agreeing with them that theyre right to hate it?
But that's not the point is it, it's about intellectual and spiritual integrity.
I didn't post that CCC841 was wrong to treat fellow freepers like things or stroke my own ego, I wrote it because I believe I am correct.
TRUTH. Legatus, do you believe in truth? Seriously, do you?
Don't you know what the answer to this one is?
"If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
"Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed."
I already answered why it was posted to my profile page.
“I like it when Catholic folks say things that they believe about Mary!”
The miracle at Cana shows that the Lord can answer prayer for the small things (like wine at a wedding, Zuriel, post #777 posted on 4/4/2015, 10:53:49 PM http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3272222/posts?page=777#777
“So you admit it’s abuse?”
Not even close. It’s not abusive and it’s not a “constant barrage”. Remember, I posted 9 posts to a total of 4 people. You’re posting proportionately as much as I am at the very least. Are your posts a constant barrage? Are your posts abusive?
“But that’s not the point is it, it’s about intellectual and spiritual integrity.”
Agreeing with anti-Catholics when they are in the wrong is not intellectual or spiritual integrity.
“I didn’t post that CCC841 was wrong to treat fellow freepers like things or stroke my own ego, I wrote it because I believe I am correct.”
But you’re not.
“Don’t you know what the answer to this one is?”
No, not when you are agreeing with those (anti-Catholics) who openly attack the Christ’s Church. I have no problem agreeing with anyone when they say there are Catholics who are corrupt, or liberals, or some priests are pedophiles or ephebophiles. I see no reason, however, to agree with them when they are clearly in the wrong, not open to reason, and also (repeatedly) lie, distort, misrepresent, etc.
“Are you saying you disagree with it then?”
Anti-Catholics, yes. Scripture, no. The problem is that you don’t seem to understand that the truth is charity.
“I already answered why it was posted to my profile page.”
Do you agree with it then or not. That you have no answered. You don’t have to. All you really need to do is ask God to give you wisdom.
Are you saying you disagree with it then?
Anti-Catholics, yes. Scripture, no. The problem is that you dont seem to understand that the truth is charity.
You quoted yourself and then answered as if I had asked the question. Regardless, "truth" spat out with venom isn't the truth, it's venom.
“So once you’ve defined someone as an anti-Catholic they don’t deserve Christian Charity?”
Truth is charity. I post the truth.
“You quoted yourself and then answered as if I had asked the question. Regardless, “truth” spat out with venom isn’t the truth, it’s venom.”
No, it would still be truth. Truth is never anything but the truth.
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