How Can This Be?
The entrance of “The Divine” into humanity begins in what was considered back then to be an obscure, backwater, “insignificant hamlet” - the town of Nazareth. No, this is not where Jesus was born, but rather it’s where He was conceived. The Angel Gabriel came to a young girl named Mary and addresses her with the words “Hail, full of grace”. This moment in history is known as “The Annunciation”. The message Gabriel has come to deliver is that she will bear a son. Her only question to such an inconceivable (no pun intended) message is “How can this be?” The Angel tells her what will happen and then the Angel left her.
Now Mary is left to ponder what all of this means. Not only is she going to have a baby, out of
wedlock, but this baby is the Son of God.
However, Mary is not the only one in history to be called by God to bring Jesus into the world. Truth be told, we all are. We all experience our own “annunciations” every day. We are all called to bring Jesus into this world, but each of our annunciations is different and unique to us and who God is calling us to be. We all have our “angels” so to speak and they could come to us in varied and unexpected ways – other people, Scripture/inspirational writings, art, nature and so on. It’s up to us to open our hearts and minds and respond to the call as Mary did, even in our fears and doubts and feelings of unworthiness. We must remember “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called” - Mother Teresa
However, Mary is not the only one in history to be called by God to bring Jesus into the world. Truth be told, we all are. We all experience our own “annunciations” every day. We are all called to bring Jesus into this world, but each of our annunciations is different and unique to us and who God is calling us to be. We all have our “angels” so to speak and they could come to us in varied and unexpected ways – other people, Scripture/inspirational writings, art, nature and so on. It’s up to us to open our hearts and minds and respond to the call as Mary did, even in our fears and doubts and feelings of unworthiness. We must remember “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called” - Mother Teresa
Mary says “yes” to God and to a future she does not know. Why, because she has faith and trusts in what
God has already done in her life and in the lives of her people. God calls each of us to
have that same trust. Will you?
Questions to Ponder:
1. . The main focus of this chapter
is about trust. Mary’s trust in saying
yes to an incredible request that is going to lead her on a journey beyond
anything she ever could have ever imagined.
Can you recall a time in your life when you said “yes” to God not really
knowing what it would mean or where it would take you?
2. What were you feeling at the
time, peace or angst in your decision? What was the outcome?
3. Mary is being "recovered" in this chapter not only as the "Blessed Mother" but also as Miriam of Nazareth, a young woman living in a backwater town. Is it easier for you to relate to the "Mother of God" or to the poor woman in Nazareth?
Lucy Premus
Here is a YouTube video from modern day Nazareth:
Check back next Sunday for Chapter 3, "Bethlehem."
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It is true that each of us is called upon to announce the Good News by the way we live our lives. Personally, in order to access Mary, I need both the image of the Blessed Mother and also the image of young Miriam of Nazareth. She is both. At times I need to be reminded that the one who said Yes was just a young girl.
ReplyDeleteObserving young teenage girls nowadays (their general immaturity, vanity, superficiality, etc.), it is really difficult to imagine how young Miriam of Nazareth (our Blessed Mother) was capable of making the decision to say "yes" to becoming the Mother of God. Years ago, I read a short story on the Angel Gabriel being sent by God to search for the young virgin who would become the Mother of Jesus. Angel Gabriel approaches a group of young virgins and explains his mission from God. He informs them that whoever accepts will be known as "holy, full of grace, and blessed among all women". He then explains that she will one day see her son put to death on a cross, and it is at that point that all of the young woman walk away, except for Mary, who we honor for her "YES". So amazing that it is difficult to comprehend!
ReplyDeleteYesses that have transformed me? There are many. The yes at Confirmation. The yes to marriage vows. The yes to raising a family. The yes to new jobs, moving to a different state, to difficult surgeries, the letting go of children as they grow. We live so many of these decisions every day. So many yesses… hopefully most of them have been in line with God’s will… a yes to God’s way’s and a no to evil, selfishness, and sin. May we always say yes to love — as Jesus and the many saints have taught us!
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I think I’d weep at the site of Mary’s yes to Angel. Just being in Nazareth would be close enough to give me goosebumps!
The one invitation that I am convinced came from God into our lives took place around 1961. My father had died in 1960 (when I was 12 yrs. Old). I was the only child of his second marriage (I had two brothers on my father’s side from his first marriage in Lebanon). My mother and I welcomed my uncle’s invitation to immigrate to Canada from Cuba. We did not know my father’s side of the family, but we somehow knew that this invitation to sponsor us out of our homeland was the best thing for us. We saw this as God sent and we trusted the Lord. We decided to accept it and after many long delayed efforts, we finally left in 1968. This decision was the right one which turned our lives 360o degrees for the better. My uncle died 11 months after our arrival. Deep in my heart I believe that God allowed his life to be extended until then so that he could help us start a new and more prosperous life. I always pray for his soul and could never be grateful enough to him, to his wife and to a cousin who help him with the paper work. I must add that during all these years we waited to leave the Communist island of Cuba, we felt very anxious about the long wait, every time we were ready to go through a third country (Canada at the time had not passenger flights to Cuba), it was cancelled by the particular government or airline, we kept trying and trying through Mexico, through Jamaica, etc., finally we left through Spain. I remember getting anxious, sick with a virus because things kept closing on us, but finally on January 7, 1968 the gates opened for us to enter a new life.
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved to New Jersey in 1971, we began attending St. Anthony’s Parish in Union City, NJ and the pastor was asking for CCD teachers to volunteer for Sunday school. I was 21 and had never done this, but somehow I trusted God and embarked on this mission of being a CCD teacher for First Communion Class. It turned out I was right and the Lord began working his way on me for spiritual growth and service as I attended formation classes, retreats, etc. Many a times I felt I was unqualified or undeserving. Nevertheless, the Lord always found the way to guide me and enrich my qualifications through the people I met and taught me. Above all, I had Jesus and Our Lady who enlightened my mind and soul then and continue to do so now.
Both Miriam of Nazareth and the Mother of Jesus/God go hand in hand. Mary went through a process of awakening to a very special mission indeed. She knew the Scriptures; she knew that nothing was impossible to God. She knew about Abraham and Moses. She had all the background she needed to prepare her for this mission and above all, she must have had a strong faith and good nature. This is the reason why I feel so strong about the formation of the youngsters; they need to know the word of God in order to surmount obstacles, surprises of life, dramatic changes, in other words, to prepare themselves for the battles and struggles they will face. Mary, even though she was from an insignificant village/town, or from a humble birth herself, she had all she needed: her faith and her family. In reality this is what we need: to know God through His word and His teachings and if we have a family that loves us, then we have everything. It does not matter how poor or rich we are; if we get to know God, we possess the foundation to build a strong life. God only and truly suffices. Just think of how many unhappy rich people are there in the world and how sadly many of them end up their lives.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful faith journey with us. I wholeheartedly agree with you about the importance of faith formation for the children today. Our society has become so secularized and has drifted so far from God and faith. We've become a lost and confused generation thinking we could find happiness in the things of this world, most especially here in this country. I've always said the children of this generation, again particularly in the US, have become "orphans". Not necessarily in a physical sense, but rather emotionally and most definitely spiritually. They are being raised with no moral foundation and no basis of faith and religion in family life. It is so very sad. But we always have HOPE. So we pray pray pray and trust in the workings of the Holy Spirit through good and faithful servants like you and others. God Bless us all!
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