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On Focus
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-
 THE
TRIBUTE
- By Sansu Garin
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A
humble virgin with a pure faith and a willing spirit said
in Luke 1:38, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord,
let it be done to me according to your word.”
This
gracious answer of Mary to Archangel Gabriel’ s announcement that
she will bear the Son of the Most High made possible our
redemption. I shudder at the thought of the countless things that
might have or might not have happened if Mary answered otherwise.
What if she said “NO!”? Then God’s plan for man’s salvation might
not have happened as it did. Probably, we would still be waiting
for the Savior to come. We could well be still living in darkness,
lost and desolate in sin. We would not have known Jesus, her Son,
our Redeemer.
Reality
reminds us, however, that indeed, Mary is full of God’s grace.
Chosen by God from birth and preserved from the stain of original
sin. So attuned is the Blessed Virgin Mary to God that with full
trust, she said YES! With such answer, she affirmed our salvation.
With her consent, she not only became the Mother of the Son of God,
but also of us all. As St. Irenaeus said, “Being obedient, she
became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human
race.” And I say, “O Mary, with your YES, You Espoused Salvation!”
I
remember attending a retreat a few years back, where one of the
activities involved looking back to our past – as far back to what
we can remember of our childhood. As I was recollecting my early
years, a kaleidoscope of scenes from my life flashed before me. Of
all the memories that flooded my thoughts, there was an event that
stood out, the one that touched me the most. It was of my mother
teaching me my prayers. So intense was the memory that I actually
felt then that I was back in time. I could vividly remember…
Before
I ever attended school, at about 4 or 5 years old then. At nights,
while kneeling or lying in bed beside my mother, I would recite the
Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary after her. Night after night, she
patiently led me through these prayers…
Until
I mastered them myself and prayed on my own.
Those
nights, I realize now, marked the threshold of my relationship with
the Lord. I got my initial awareness, my young sense of the
existence of God during those moments of prayer. It was of no
consequence to me back then, but now, as an adult, I finally
understood the significance of those times. Now, I realize that
what I am today is largely because at a young age, my mother
introduced me to the Lord. And to Mother Mary. For this, I am
eternally grateful to God, to the Model of mothers, and to my
mother.
Except
that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and
men” (Luke
2:52), little
has been said and known about Jesus’ childhood. But no doubt, just
as we know during the public life of Jesus, Mary, the devoted
handmaid of the Lord, carried out to perfection the will of God to
be the Mother of Jesus. Then, as Mother to us all.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all Mothers!
E-mail the author:
sansu@genesis.faithweb.com
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Surabaya Corner
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Marian Sharing
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Community Life
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Marian Reflection
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On Focus
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