Daily Thoughts: Today we take a
little break from the purple of Lent today to celebrate the Feast of the
Annunciation. Mary is invited to be the Mother of Christ and she accepts even
though it is an overwhelming invitation and will soon become an overwhelming
task. Mary utters “yes” to God’s invitation today and her life and the life of
the world was never the same. We owe Mary a lot but we can also learn a lot
from her still. Her profound trust in God shows us that all things are possible
when our friend is God.
In Evangelii Gaudium Pope Francis talks
about Mary in this way, “Mary was able to turn a stable into a home for Jesus,
with poor swaddling clothes and an abundance of love. She is the handmaid of
the Father who sings his praises. She is the friend who is ever concerned that
wine not be lacking in our lives. She is the woman whose heart was pierced by a
sword and who understands all our pain. As mother of all, she is a sign of hope
for peoples suffering the birth pangs of justice. She is the missionary who
draws near to us and accompanies us throughout life, opening our hearts to
faith by her maternal love. As a true mother, she walks at our side, she shares
our struggles and she constantly surrounds us with God’s love….Mary is able to
recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small. She constantly
contemplates the mystery of God in our world, in human history and in our daily
lives. She is the woman of prayer and work in Nazareth, and she is also Our
Lady of Help, who sets out from her town “with haste” (Luke 1:39) to be of
service to others.”
This reflection by Pope Francis offers
us a wonderful insight into the gift of Mary in our lives. He tells us of the
many things that we should look for in the life of Mary. Most importantly Pope
Francis reminds us that Mary was always able to recognize God’s presence in the
important and unimportant moment of life. In other words Mary always remained
connected to God.
In remembering Mary today we also
remember all mothers, all women who say yes to the gift of life. Because of a
mother’s yes, life forever changes for her and the world. Another gift gets the
chance to enter the world and we get a chance to share in another part of the
image and likeness of God.
So I honor all mothers today, those
living and those deceased. I especially pray for all expectation mothers, who
carry the gift of life within them because they said yes! I remember in a
special way all the mothers who have played a role in my life especially my own
mother Rita, I am most grateful for her yes, and also Betty, Bernadette, Alice,
Rosemarie, Roseann, Alice, Stephanie, Erica, Alexis, Deb, Ann, Monica and Sarah.
Thank you all for your yes and the many ways you have given life to me along
the way!
I would also like to mention all those
women we say “yes” but are not able for many reasons to bring the gift of life,
a child, into the world. I pray that they know that they do bring life perhaps
not through a child, but through the unique gifts that they bring to the lives
of many. I am thinking of many such women in my life, especially two aunts
named, Mary Helen, a couple of friends by the name of Mary, and many others
Have a blessed Wednesday everyone and
may Mary be present to you in a special way throughout this day!
Daily Prayer: O God of
Eternal Love, through the loving “yes” of Mary, your Word, Jesus, took flesh in
her womb. We pray today that we who believe in Christ as our Redeemer may share
in the gift of his presence in our life. We ask for the grace to say yes each
day and thus bring about the birth of your Eternal Word in the world once
again. May the living of our life today be our “yes” to your love.
We also remember this day all mothers
and we ask your blessing through the intercession of Mary upon them. We are
grateful for their “yes” to life and for the way they have blessed us with
their presence and their love! Amen!
A Runner’s Thoughts: “Endurance is
not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” (William
Barclay, Scottish Theologian)
Daily Blessing: Happy Solemnity
of the Annunciation everyone and also Wednesday greetings and blessings! I hope
this finds you well and that your Hump Day has gotten off to a good start.
The mission here at Divine Mercy Parish
is rolling along. The morning service and the evening one yesterday were both
well attended and spirit filled. I am looking forward to today’s closing services!
I continue to ask for your prayers for the faith community here at Divine Mercy
Parish and for their preacher.
Today’s blessing prayer goes out to you
through the intercession of Mary. I pray that God will bless us all with the
faith and hope of Mary so that our lives too can be a “yes” to God! I also pray
that God will bless all mothers today in gratitude for their “yes”! And a
special prayer of blessing for all expecting mothers. Blessings on all women
for the life they bring to the world! Have a great day everyone and may God’s
blessing be with you! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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