Tag Archive for: Mary

The Annunciation – How to Be Ourselves

fra-angelico-the-annunciation

“I want to talk to you…” begins a song that was once very popular (“Grace Kelly”, by Mika). Far less formal and reverent than the archangel Gabriel’s greeting to our Blesséd Mother, “Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” it still portrays the idea that words of great import are to come. And while Gabriel goes on to tell Mary that she has been chosen to become the Mother of God, the song continues:

 

I could be brown

I could be blue

I could be violet sky

I could be hurtful

I could be purple

I could be anything you like…

 

Anything you like?! Surely to be one’s self would be far more desirable?

 

And that’s what Our Lady teaches us: how to be ourselves; how to live. And the surest way to be ourselves is to live out our vocation! Vocation: a word that is fast becoming a dirty one in a secular society that thrives on immediate gratification; A word that speaks of something both dreaded and dreadful – constancy. Committing ones whole life to one thing when, at the drop of a hat, one can do something else instead, move somewhere else instead, love someone else instead, become someone else instead? In a world that only claims to thrive on chaos and the ephemeral, why would anyone settle for, let alone strive for happiness in steadfastness?

 

How, then, does one live such a life? The example of the Virgin Mother is a good place to begin. In the midst of all the challenges we face as Christians, we must never forget the heart of the Christian message, conversion through Jesus Christ, is seen perfectly in Our Lady. That is the path to steadfastness, the path to happiness, the path to salvation.

 

“I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.” When Mary spoke these words the whole of human history was forever changed. Surely then, speaking these simple words, proclaiming our own “Yes” would change our personal worlds irrevocably too? The words of Mary were spoken from a heart filled with love for God and came from a pure and humble heart. She was not self-protective, looking out only for her own self-interest, nor was she cynical. She was therefore able to completely give herself over in love, to Love. That is the example of Mary. That is our path to holiness. She spoke these words in Nazareth, and Nazareth means consecration, and to be “holy” means to be set apart, to be consecrated, entirely dedicated to God’s plan for us.

 

We are called to respond to His invitation to us too, to say “Yes” to a relationship with God. In saying Yes to God, not by saying “I could be anything…” but by proclaiming, “Yes, I can be myself in You!” what I am called to be, we discover the path to conversion, to happiness, to authenticity.

 

God, who always initiates and then awaits our response, calls us, sets us apart, not to retreat from the transient world to become ourselves, contradictory though that may seem. Instead He wants our unique gifts and personalities, our own distinctive personal histories and backgrounds shape the way we see the world and what we can offer it. God does not call us to become someone we are not. Instead God lovingly calls us to be the best version of ourselves, living our giftedness in the world in the same way that Jesus did. This dynamic leads to a conversation and way of life that is one that travels a heavenly road. Mary shows us that way. Let us choose now to follow her example and to enjoy that happy path.

Mary Mother Of God

happy-mothers-dayAnd they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had

been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

If someone was to walk up to you today and say ‘Happy Mother’s Day!’ would you think that they had been partying a bit too hard the night before and lost track of days, months even? For you know well that mother’s day is not until later in the year, the 30th of March in fact. And yet they would be right to share this greeting, celebrating as they are the great Church feast of Mary the Mother of God.

On Mother’s Day we celebrate our earthly mothers because they brought us into this world, loved and cared for us when we were utterly dependent on them, and helped raise us with good values and example which helped us to make our own way in the world. Our earthly mothers are indeed a great gift and blessing to us but so too is our Heavenly Mother Mary. As the adopted children of God we are also all her children and she loves each of us with the purest and most tender motherly love. She is constantly watching over us and calling us to come closer to her Son, Jesus.

At this time of year many people choose to make new year resolutions. May one of these resolutions be to grow closer to Mary during this coming year through our devotion and prayers to her – particularly by praying the rosary – so that we may learn from her example and receive the many graces that she has been given by God for us. By drawing close to Mary, she will bring us closer to Jesus.

Mary was a woman who valued the word of God, who treasured it and made time to meditate on and ponder it so that she could discern what God was saying to her at every stage in her life. Today let us resolve to learn from our Heavenly Mother how to make time for God in our busy lives. If we are to hear God speaking to us, we too need to make quiet time each day to listen to God speaking to our hearts and to ponder his Word in the Bible.

Let us pray that during this year all mothers may truly cherish the gift of unborn life that they carry within them and like Mary, they may say ‘yes’ to life and ‘yes’ to motherhood. Today is also the ‘world day of peace’ and we pray that Mary the Queen of Peace, who gave birth to the Prince of Peace, may through her powerful intercession bring peace to the many war torn countries in the world and to the hearts of all men and women.

Mary Mother of God, pray for us.

Gospel Reading: (Lk 2:16-21)