Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum
Today, the 8th of September, we remember the birth of Mary, the mother of God, born without sin. What does God’s request of Mary tell us today. Something often overlooked is the place of women in our society which was inherent in God’s request.Mary was bethrothed to Joseph and in those days there was no question of the objectification of women….they were their husband’s property. When God sent the angel Gabriel to ask Mary to bear His Son He transformed societal norms. The angel didn’t ask Joseph and then inform Mary of her fate. He asked her.
Mary was chosen as the representative of all of humanity. Her birth without sin was the first step in God’s plan to redeem humanity and was the first such birth since the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden.
There has never before or since been one representative for the entire human race. Mary’s ‘Yes’ was a yes to salvation on behalf of every one of us. So it was a woman that was chosen to respond to the Lord’s mercy. It was a woman who was graceful enough to accept and to bear the Son of man as the Son of man.
Today, Mary’s birthday, is the celebration of her impending ‘Yes’ and of the Lord’s plan for mankind. Today is a celebration of the reality of God, revealed to us in the life and death of Jesus Christ - Love. So then today is a celebration of Love… a celebration of God…and a chance for each one of us to say our ‘Yes’ to God’s redeeming Love.
Monday, September 8th, 2008 and is filed under The Church.
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Hannah mary o'Donoghue Says:
What a wonderful insight.
Indeed, God has shown us in so many ways… what GOD thinks of woman & man.
Let’s pray that all of us will pay more attention to these obvious, clear messages.
Thank you,
Sr. HM o’D.
September 8th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Thomas Valayil Says:
Dear Sister,
I am from Kerala God’s own country-Land of St. Alphonsa. Now I am living in north India among Hindus. I would like to give the name GRATIA PLENA to my new house. Kindly inform me the meaning of the word. Also suggest is it suitable.
Thanks.
Thomas
October 30th, 2008 at 2:00 am