Every Saturday the Church remembers the role of Mary in the life of Jesus and in the work of redemption. We remember that a human being became the gateway of the incarnation. We see that human beings are capable of immense self giving and love. In Mary we see discipleship lived and writ large. God’s choice of Mary begins with his presence in her life. The Lord is with her. God’s choice of Mary makes her ‘full of grace’. If grace is God’s gift, then Mary was full of God’s gifts. There is no point in asking what Mary did to deserve such gift; she didn’t do anything to deserve them - for it is gift. Gifts and favours depend on the generosity of the giver, not the worthiness of the receiver.
The Gospel's do not tell us so much what Mary does, but they proclaim what God has done through Mary. God freely chose Mary to be the Mother of his son. God’s choice of Mary is the result of God’s freedom to choose from among all women the one who would be the mother of Jesus. When God chooses Mary, his choice makes her worthy, just as his love made her full of grace. The difference between us and Mary is not that she was chosen and we are not; rather, it is that she responded wholeheartedly to what God asked of her whilst we often remain hesitant and half hearted about responding to what God asks of us. The truth is that God has chosen all of us. God desires that we, you and I, be full of grace.
Like Mary, we face God’s choice of us; like her, we are challenged to say ‘Yes’. If we could see ourselves as God’s choice rather than a mobile mistake, we might be keener to say yes! God has chosen every single one of us; God has a role for each of us. God waits for our choice to put our freedom at his service.
The Gospel's do not tell us so much what Mary does, but they proclaim what God has done through Mary. God freely chose Mary to be the Mother of his son. God’s choice of Mary is the result of God’s freedom to choose from among all women the one who would be the mother of Jesus. When God chooses Mary, his choice makes her worthy, just as his love made her full of grace. The difference between us and Mary is not that she was chosen and we are not; rather, it is that she responded wholeheartedly to what God asked of her whilst we often remain hesitant and half hearted about responding to what God asks of us. The truth is that God has chosen all of us. God desires that we, you and I, be full of grace.
Like Mary, we face God’s choice of us; like her, we are challenged to say ‘Yes’. If we could see ourselves as God’s choice rather than a mobile mistake, we might be keener to say yes! God has chosen every single one of us; God has a role for each of us. God waits for our choice to put our freedom at his service.
The image of Mary that I share with you here is the oldest one in the Carmelite tradition. It is under the title 'La Bruna.' Legend says that it was brought to Europe from Mount Carmel by the earliest Carmelite refugees from the land, once made holy by the footsteps of Jesus, and divided by the ignorance of humanity. The image was brought to Naples and is enshrined in the Carmelite Church there. it is said to be 800 years old
Flower of Carmel,
Tall vine blossom laden,
Splendour of heaven,
Child bearing yet maiden.
None equals thee.
Mother so tender,
Whom no man didst know,
On Carmels children,
Thy favours bestow.
Star of the Sea
No comments:
Post a Comment