Perhaps you have a favorite painting of Mary in mind of receiving this astounding news from the Angel Gabriel that she has been chosen to conceive and become the mother of the long-awaited Savior. Think about that image…what was the look on her face? What was she doing? How is Gabriel pictured? So much meaning is there for us, but for Mary, it means nothing will ever be the same again for her.
I noticed as I looked at different paintings of the Annunciation recently that in many of them, Mary is holding, praying or reading a book, most likely the Scriptures. What a beautiful way to convey the thought that Mary was holding the Word of God in her mind and heart before she had the privilege of physically carrying the Word of God in her body.
When Mary’s encounter with the Angel was over, our gospel simply says: “Then the angel departed from her.” The angel left her with the greatest gift of all, but who knew it then? What should she do now? Who would believe her? Commenting on this very moment, Bishop Grady, our former Bishop of Orlando, wrote: “At that time, there was no Christmas. There was no good news, no New Testament, no supportive community of believers, no tradition, no church, no great minds like Augustine or Aquinas to interpret the events. She was alone in the face of a great mystery that had come into her life. Could she believe the message was really from God? What would Joseph think? What would the people think? Where would this mystery lead her? Mary said “yes”.”[1]
Her willing response spoke deeply of her humble faith.
- Because of Mary’s “yes”, this annunciation event becomes an announcement of hope for us, the beginning of a new creation.
- Because of her “yes”, God entered our human life with all its depravity, violence and corruption.
- Because of her ‘yes’, Jesus Christ lives among us.
For Mary, saying ‘yes’ to God also meant sacrifice, the most painful being watching her only son die on the cross.
For Mary, saying “yes” to God at this Annunciation moment was faith and trust in action. Mary said yes, so that Jesus may live. Jesus said yes, so that we might live.
The feast of the Annunciation, celebrated halfway through Lent this year, is a reminder to us to follow Mary’s example and say ‘yes’ to God. Our world desperately needs people who are beacons of hope, of prayer, of compassion, and who, like Mary, can willingly say ‘yes’ to God.
By our baptism, we’ve already said ‘yes”, a response that brings grace, but also, demands and sacrifice: to respect others, to forgive as Jesus does, and to work for justice.
Mary, Mother of Our Savior and Queen of Peace, pray for us.
[1] The First Disciple: Reflection on Mary of Nazareth. Bishop Thomas Grady, Diocese of Orlando, p. 9
