In today’s liturgy, the responsorial is from Judith 13:
18bcde, 19, which gives praise to God for the Blessed Virgin Mary, who
conceived in her womb the Son of God, who took on human nature to save us from
sin. We pray: “Blessed are you, daughter,
by the Most High God, above all the women of earth; and blessed be the Lord
God, the creator of heaven and earth [who assumed human nature through
you]. Your deed of hope will never be forgotten by those who tell of the
might of God.”
An angel of the Lord, Luke tells us in today’s Gospel, Luke
1: 26-38, “was sent from God to a town of
Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betroth to a man named Joseph, of the
house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.” The angel greets Mary, saying: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you….Do
not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will
conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be
great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him
the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob
forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” Mary asks how this will
come about because she has not had sexual relations with a man. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, [Mary,]
and the power of the Most high will
overshadow you….[T]he child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” The angel adds: “And behold, Elizabeth,
your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth
month for her who was called barren; for nothing is impossible for God.” Mary’s response: “Behold, I am the handmaid
of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”
As with Mary, you and I are created to fulfill God’s
purposes for our lives and to be beacons of hope. Mary’s purpose was to bring into
this world Jesus, the Son of God, and care and support Him from birth to His
death and spread His kingdom via good works: works of justice and mercy, works of love and
forgiveness. In short, she was to be an instrument in God’s hands, sharing the
Good News of our salvation. Mary knew who she was: God’s handmaiden. Who are you? And what is God’s purpose for
your life? Have you asked the Lord or are you simply pursuing a purpose apart
from what God may want of you?
At your
death, will people say: “Your deed of
hope (your trust) will
never be forgotten by those who tell of the might of God” (Judith 13:19).
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