(Based on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord)
This simple and beautiful little story is told about a long, tedious train journey, made by some elderly residents of a nursing home who were on their way to a vacation spot.
At one station, a young mother with a small child entered the train.
The child smiled at all the grim faces around him and began moving from one lap to another…
… talking, shouting with joy and chatting with everyone.
Instantly, the grim and silent atmosphere in the train was changed to one of joy and happiness.
Today is the celebration of the day when our Blessed Lord and Mamma Mary entered into the “train of human life” to begin a journey of “joy and mirth!”
On this Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, we remember with joy and gratitude how Mary said “Yes to the Divine Plan”….
… to pave the way for Her Divine Son Jesus to transform a hopeless, joyless and sinful world into a place of joy and happiness!
This Announcement of the Good News of the beginning of salvation history, with the encounter of Blessed Virgin Mary with Angel Gabriel, is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord.
Mother Mary, at the Annunciation teaches us many things…
- Mother Mary teaches the supreme goodness of obedience
Heaven had chosen a simple girl, Mary to be the Mother of Jesus, the Saviour.
When Angel Gabriel was sent to seek Her consent, Mary, after the initial moments of fear, bowed Herself in obedience: “Behold, I am the Handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to Me, according to Your Word” (Lk 1: 38)
This obedience to God’s Will would turn out to be Her fortress and strength – in moments of uncertainty, loneliness, dread and agony.
- “Faithfulness, thy true Daughter is Mary!”
One of the most outstanding qualities to be admired and imitated from our Blessed Mother is “to be faithful”
In Mother Mary, we have a person, who remained faithful at all times…
… even when there were dark clouds of unwarranted humiliation looming over her
… even when unforeseen difficulties encountered Her during the birth of Jesus
… even when she encountered many situations which were not understood by Her
… even when life surrounded her with agonising moments and heartbreaking instances
The “Fiat” at the Annunciation would be lived all through Her life
This act of being “faithful forever” was a result of the constant choices that She made to listen and obey to God’s Will always.
- Mary was ready to be moulded and shaped by God
When Mary was entrusted with the greatness of the task, She gave Herself readily to the power of God
She didn’t hold back anything; She was complete in Her surrender
It is when we offer ourselves wholly and be ready to be moulded and shaped by the Lord, that He can perform wonders through us.
- Mary held on to Jesus as the Greatest Treasure of Her life
The greatness and the eminence of Mother Mary came as result of Her single-minded focus and love: Everything for Jesus and in Jesus.
When in the womb…
… Her sole attention was on Jesus
While in the manger…
… Her whole care was for Jesus
While in His ministry…
… Her thoughts were centred on Him
While on the Cross…
… Her entire self rested on Him
It is when Jesus becomes the Treasure of our life, that our lives gets enshrined in Grace and Holiness
- Mary is the New Ark of the Covenant, bearing Jesus.
The Scriptures easily point to the fact that Mother Mary is the New Ark of the Covenant
The ark in the OT travelled to the land of Judah and remained for 3 months (2 Sam: 6:1-11)
The Ark in the NT, Mary travels to Judah, to meet Her cousin Elizabeth and remained for 3 months (Lk 1:39, 56)
David danced and leaped, and shouted before the ark in the OT (2 Sam 6:14)
In the NT, John, the babe, leaped and Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry before Mary (Lk 1: 41, 43)
Inside the ark of the Old Covenant was the manna – the miraculous bread from heaven, the staff of Aaron, the Priest and the tablets of the covenant (Heb 9:4)
The NT Ark, Mother Mary had within Her Jesus, the Bread of Life, Jesus, the Eternal Priest and Jesus, the Law-giving Word!
As the New Ark of the Covenant, Mother Mary deserves our highest veneration and honour, which will lead us to a greater closeness and intimacy with the One, She derives all Her praise – Jesus, Her Son and our Brother!
May we embrace Mary, the beautiful instrument chosen by God…
… and be led to love the Lord more!
The Feast of the Annunciation is an invitation for us…
To grow deeper into embracing the Will of God in our lives.
To give consent to the inspirations of the Lord that comes constantly to us.
To be open to march forward in faith and hope, in our life of faith in the Lord.
The Lord is wishing to find a place in a willing heart, even today…
Just as Mary, our Loving Mother, who said Yes to the Will of the Lord, let us also, say Yes to God’s Will…
… and allow our Blessed Lord and Mamma Mary with St Joseph, to enter into the “train of our life” and to have a journey of “joy and mirth!”
Happy Feast of the Annunciation.
Let us continue to hold on to our Blessed Mamma
Let us continue to seek to grow in the Love of Her Beloved Son.
God bless! Live Jesus!
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism:
GOD, “HE WHO IS”, IS TRUTH AND LOVE
God, “HE WHO IS”, revealed himself to Israel as the One “abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness”
These two terms express summarily the riches of the Divine Name.
In all His works God displays, not only His kindness, goodness, grace and steadfast love…
… but also His trustworthiness, constancy, faithfulness and truth.
He is the Truth, for “God is light and in him there is no darkness”
“God is love,” as the apostle John teaches. (CCC # 214)
Reflection Capsules 