Mary's power in simplicity

REFLECTION: Miriam of Nazareth encounters the angel Gabriel who says, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." The greeting means she is not only the object and recipient of grace, but possesses grace in its fullness.

"Hail, thou that art highly favored." The main importance of the Annunciation lies in the miracle of the Incarnation. In this readimg, we see Luke's Annunciation as a counterpart to the start of John's Gospel: "And the Word became flesh."

Mary called herself the "handmaid of the Lord," one who became the instrument of the divine plan. She serves as the model of patience, a certain type of passivity and an unquestioning obedience.

Yet Mary is also called the "woman of valor." She came to be perceived as a warrior, a champion, a conqueror and leader. In her perceived moment of weakness, Mary became a pillar of strength, courage and faith.

No other feast of Mary has been portrayed by more artists. The encounter, the angel's words: "With God shall nothing be impossible" and Mary's words : "Behold, the hand-maid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word." This was probably the most shattering intervention in human history launched by God. It is a supreme example of how God's grace always respects human freedom and integrity. Grace builds on nature. All is grace.

How has God announced his presence to you? What has been your response?

In Isaiah, the sign of Emmanuel is paramount -- "God with us." Ahaz is offered any sign to confirm his faith, but when he refuses, the prophet answers with his own sign, that of the child to be named Emmanuel.

Sacrifice had played a role in preparing a people for God. In the second reading, we are told that its role is now assumed by Jesus, who is the new humanity, the people of God. Sacrifice is abolished because God's will for our salvation has now been established in Jesus.

RELEVANCE: When Robert Ingersoll, a notorious skeptic, was in his heyday, two college students heard him lecture. Afterwards, one said to the other, "Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn't he?" The other said, " Ingersoll did not explain my mother's life, and until he can explain my mother's life, I will stand by my mother's God."

Someone has said: "The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple." The 21st century's challenge to motherhood is that mothers (and fathers) have an experience of God -- a reality which they can pass on to their children.

RESPONSE: Pray the rosary's Joyful mysteries: Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity, Presentation, and finding Jesus in the Temple; or study the history of art for your meditation scenes from the life of Mary using works such as: The Annunciations by Fra Angelico, El Greco, Rossetti, or Dali to name a few.

(Vanden Busch is a columnist for Catechist magazine. His columns have been compiled into a book, available through Notre Dame Middle School, De Pere.)