Devotion for today: Mary’s yes to life, yes to death for Christ

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation, Mary's "yes" to Gabriel

Scripture for meditation: Luke 1:38
Mary said: “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.” With that the angel left her.

Scripture for reflection: John 19:28
Near the cross of Jesus there stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clophas, and Mary Magdalene.

Blessed John Paul II tells us: Regina Caeli, laetare, alleluia! So the Church sings in the Easter season, inviting the faithful to join in the spiritual joy of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer. The Blessed Virgin’s gladness at Christ’s resurrection is even greater if one considers her intimate participation in Jesus’ entire life. In accepting with complete availability the words of the angel Gabriel, who announced to her that she would become the Mother of the Messiah, Mary began her participation in the drama of redemption….The Council (Vatican II) stressed the profound dimension for the Blessed Virgin’s presence on Calvary, recalling that she “faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross” (Lumen Gentium, 58) and points out that this union “in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ’s virginal conception up to his death” (LG 57)…. We pause to reflect on the Mother’s involvement in her Son’s redeeming passion, which was completed by her sharing in his suffering. Let us return again…to the foot of the cross where the Mother “stood, in keeping with the divine plan (cf. Jn 19:25), grieving exceedingly with her only begotten Son, uniting herself with a maternal heart with his sacrifice, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this victim which she herself had brought forth” (LG58)….The Council thus emphasized Mary’s willingness to share in her Son’s redeeming sacrifice and join her own maternal suffering to his priestly offering…as a “victim” of expiation for the sins of all humanity….In the fourth Gospel, St. John says that “standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister”…. The Blessed Virgin’s “standing erect” at the foot of the cross recalls her unfailing constancy and extraordinary courage in facing suffering…. Sharing his deepest feelings, she countered with forbearance and pardon the arrogant insults addressed to the crucified Messiah, associating herself with his prayer to the Father, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). By sharing in the feeling of abandonment to the Father’s will expressed in Jesus’ last words on the cross: “Father into your hands I commend my spirit!” (Lk 23:46), she thus offered, as the Council noted, loving consent “to the immolation of this victim which she herself had brought forth” (LG 58). Mary’s supreme “yes” is radiant with trusting hope in the mysterious future, begun with the death of her crucified Son…. Mary’s hope at the foot of the cross contained a light stronger than the darkness that reigns in many hearts. In the presence of the redeeming sacrifice, the hope of the Church and of humanity was born in Mary (General audience of April 2, 1997).

Prayer: Ave Maris Stella

Hail, bright star of ocean, God’s own Mother blest, ever sinless Virgin, Gate of heavenly rest. Taking that sweet Ave, which from Gabriel came, peace confirm within us, changing Eva’s name. Break the captives’ fetters, light on blindness pour, all our ills expelling, every bliss implore. Show thyself a Mother; may the Word Divine, born for us thine Infant, hear our prayers through thine. Virgin all excelling, mildest of the mild, freed from guilt, preserve us, pure and undefiled. Keep our life all spotless, make our way secure, till we find in Jesus, joy for evermore. Through the highest heaven, to the immortal Three, Father, Son and Spirit, One same glory be. Amen

My thoughts: “Wow, I never knew what I was getting into!” Have those words ever crossed your lips? They come to mind when we read of the consequences to Mary from her “yes” to the angel Gabriel. “Be it done unto me according to Your will” led her to the foot of the Cross. She stood there, tall and straight, not shouting at the rude crowd, not yelling at God for doing this to her son, not picking up dirt and hurling it at the soldiers. She stood there, and she bore it all in silence, forgiving everyone as her Son did. She felt all His pain and anguish, and she accepted it all as the price of our redemption, as the cost of her “yes”. She did not know Jesus would rise, but her undying faith in God led her to accept all aspects of Christ’s passion without question. Oh, if our faith could only be a tiny bit like hers! We would understand nothing, but accept everything as good and necessary from a loving and merciful God. Her “yes” to her son’s birth and death led to our salvation. Let our “yes” be without contingencies. We do not know the plan, but we know the source of the plan, and in Him we can place all our trust.

Our prayer to God:  Mary, please help me to be like you. I am afraid of suffering, and yet I want to do God’s will. Please give me a share of your strength, courage, dignity and faith, so that I, too, can stand tall at the foot of your son’s cross and help Him bring salvation to the world. Amen.