Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. the Consecration of ourselves and the world to Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Annunciation to Mary is also our annunciation. God communicates to Mary a great mystery, the greatest Gift He can give - His Son. But it also gives Him to us and through us to others.
What is striking in Luke's description is God's delicacy and respect for man. When the angel Gabriel announced the good news to Mary, God fell silent. Theologians multiply their hypotheses as to what would have happened if Mary had refused God request. He would probably find another way to save man. But he did not have to, because he had found Mary earlier. He prepared her, formed her, did not allow any sin, the smallest evil, to touch her. Certain masterpieces only succeed in God. Mary is the greatest masterpiece; she is full of grace. She is contemplated by God Himself to become a living temple of His presence in the world.
Mary, however, is free, like all of us. That is why God is waiting for her answer. While the angel is silent and waits for an answer, Mary, the prudent Virgin, ponders and ponders the doubts that arise. Immaculate means free from sin, but not free from questions, doubts, hesitations, temptations or suffering. Mary is a human being like us, and she must go her way with the help of her own faith. There will also be many questions in her life. She will search for light in the dark, learn to read God's everyday events and signs. Her "yes" in Nazareth is consent to the unknown.
Mary trusted God completely, she entrusted immeasurably to His word, His Providence. She agreed to the mystery and all the consequences of her decision. Here I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word. These words, which mean perfect obedience, are the entrustment of life to God's will. They are also a prayer of completely entrusting oneself to God, of offering oneself.
The most important thing in a relationship with God is trust. If we say "yes", explanations, knowledge and cognition will follow. You know the way when you walk it. We know God when we trust in Him and enter into the mysteries that He leads Himself. In addition, every trust is proven by testing. The choice of God, Jesus, is not a one-off event. Rather, it is a dynamic fact that must be constantly renewed. None of us know exactly what is behind offering ourselves to God, the promises of baptism, the vow of marriage, the choice of the priesthood, vows, or other promises. Our "yes" to Jesus, a woman, a man, a friend of a difficult task, must be confirmed day after day, throughout our lives.
“You have found favor with God,” Yes, we all have found favor with God. Each of us is full of grace (albeit in a different sense than Mary). Anyone can also be immaculate at any time, if so wishes, and it does not matter that we are not immaculately conceived. The fullness of life in God and the immaculate state of the soul are within our reach and are our calling. All we need is openness to God's action. Openness like that of Mary. "Let it be done to me according to your word" - let it be done to us according to God's word, not ours. Our words rarely become flesh, God’s always.
Also Today, together with Pope Francis, in our families or individually, let us renew our act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I believe with all my heart that she will end not only the war in Ukraine but also all the fights in our lives.
The Act of Consecration is attached.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george