The Sunday Sermon Archive

Do not forget to read about the indulgences for the Feast of the Portiuncula

Dear Friend,

While many want to deny the words of the angel spoken to Mary (i.e. "full of grace") we Catholics have grown accustomed to the words recited in the Angelic Salutation (Hail Mary). Mary's sanctity is often questioned by non-Catholics who wish to deny her the titles given her by the Church. But, since we are writing to mainly Catholic readers, we would like to draw our attention to Mary's response from today's gospel which is also spoken in the Angelus: "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word." These are most profound words uttered by the Blessed Mother.

We find in these words a ready and complete correspondence with the will of God. They are an inspiration and example to us all.

Mary humbly and honestly questioned the angel concerning what God had in store for her. And we should likewise not fear to ask of God some direction in the life that He would have us live. But, we must always return to a readiness to conform ourselves to His will no matter what it may be.

Mary understood what God was asking of her. She was not a naive woman, but on the contrary, she knew enough to understand that there was an incompatibility between her virginity and her maternity. As the angel revealed God's plan and how it was all to take place, the confusion was lifted and the magnificence of God's plan sunk in. She realized that this request from God involved suffering, but she was ready to endure it all for the love of Him. She did not stop to count the cost, but give herself over to Him without reserve.

How different we act when presented with a difficult assignment or one that we foresee will cause us pain or suffering. We usually must examine every detail we can think of and do all that we can to avoid as much suffering as possible. In short we are cowards.

God respected Mary's free will and He likewise respects our free will. God asks or invites us; He does not force His will upon us. The path that He has in store for us may be a difficult and painful one but it is the only one that will enable us to reach the goal that He has in mind for us. And all the time we waste trying to avoid one cross we invariably find another one. And very often this new cross causes us greater suffering than the first.

And the reason for this greater suffering is plainly enough caused by our unwillingness to conform our own wills to the Will of God. We do not as yet really trust God and so we must question and doubt and search. And all the while the cross is growing heavier and bitterer than ever.

What we seem to be lacking is that complete confidence and trust in God that Mary so beautifully expressed: "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word."

When will we start to share with her these same sentiments? When will we say to God: "Here I am, do with me what You will"? "I am Yours and will not resist." "You created me, so who am I to resist?" Does the clay resist the hands of the potter? How dare we resist our creator!

Our merit comes from the fact that we are free to choose to conform to God's will or to follow our own misguided will. There is no merit in doing what we are forced into doing. God asks of us this humble denial of ourselves so that we can be made conformable to Him.

Our choice is free, but the consequences are not free. If we choose to disregard the will of God, there are consequences to be paid _ eternal consequences in Hell. But if we deny ourselves and readily and willingly embrace the suffering that He shows us, and we do this for the love of Him, then we will find that the cross becomes lighter and sweeter than we ever imagined.

And the eternal consequences of everlasting happiness with God in Heaven naturally follow from this humble submission to His will: this simple denial of our own will.

Mary now enjoys the perfect happiness in heaven with her Son because she said yes to God and suffering. She now calls out to us to follow her in the same path.

As we recite the daily Angelus, let us ponder what these words mean to us and what they meant to the Blessed Mother. And let us not hesitate to follow her lead, seeing that despite the suffering attached to the cross God offers us, the joys and pleasures that He promises us are of greater value, many times over.

Franciscan Benefactor Seraph Subscription Vocations Have you remembered God?