Mary's Faith

In this Sunday’s gospel(3rd Sunday of Advent) we hear of Mary’s encounter with the Angel Gabriel, who reveals to her the pivotal role that she is to play in salvation history. Her role is to be the mother of God. “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus…he will rule over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there will be no end”(Luke 1:31-32) is the message that the angel delivers to her in her home in Nazareth. The message is delivered and the angel awaits a response, because her free consent has to be given before this miracle will take place. Mary’s response is a yes to the will of God in her life… “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word”(Luke 1:38). Mary’s response is a complete reversal of Eve’s response to God’s will in the book of Genesis. Because Eve said no to God’s will sin and death appeared on the stage of human history. Because Mary, the New Eve, said yes to God’s will, the curse of original sin will be wiped away.
Mary is the model for all Christians because of her faith. Mary trusted in God’s plan for her and gave her consent to that plan even though she did not know how it would all unfold. The life of Mary shows us that to consent to the will of God in our lives is a cause for great joy. She expresses that joy when she visits Elizabeth after she receives this good news with the words “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior”(Luke 1:46). However, the life of Mary shows us that doing the will of God in our lives will also involve suffering. The angel did not tell her that people would not make room for her when the time came for her delivery in Bethlehem. The angel did not tell her that King Herod would want to kill the child and that she and Joseph would have to flee into the desert by themselves away from their home for a long period of time. The angel did not tell her that she would witness the execution of her son on the cross on Good Friday. Mary said “yes” to all of these things on that day when the angel appeared to her even though she didn’t know what that “yes” would bring her. Mary’s faith enabled the world to be saved through the life and death of her son.
Like Mary, God has a role for all of us to play in salvation history. At times we will experience great joy, but we will also encounter suffering. Let us pray for the grace to trust as Mary trusted. Let our response always be her response to the will of God in our lives… “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word”