Saying 'yes' to God

St Martin’s Homily

 

Mary’s ‘yes’ to God at the Annunciation make her the first Christian and the model Christian. Today may be called ‘Lady Day’ but this makes the imitation of Mary not only relevant to women but to all Christians.

 

In the final analysis there are only two kinds of human being: those who say ‘yes’ to God and those who say ‘no’; those who say ‘your will be done’ and those to whom God says ‘OK, have it your own way’.

 

When Mary embraced God’s will for her she opened the gateway for the drama of our salvation to begin. She was not coerced, she was not pressurised, she was not threatened. She simply responded as only faith and love know how when she said ‘yes’ to God as he asked for her cooperation in his plan of salvation for mankind. She was still saying ‘yes’ to God when she also embraced her son’s suffering and crucifixion in such a way that they pierced her own soul too.

 

Our vocation as Christians is to imitate her. It is as simple, and as profound, as that. She is the standard and the standard bearer of what it means to live our lives for Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

The late Pope John Paul II often reflected on Mary’s example and urged all Christians to say ‘yes’ to God as she did. On one occasion he said:

 

“Such a ‘yes’ in imitation of Mary, such a’ yes’ creates joy, a new life, a breath, a

 

 blessing.

 

One must accept the call. One must listen. One must receive.

 

Say ‘yes’ ,‘yes’, ‘yes’.

 

Do not fear life for you have found grace and this certainty, this consciousness, will help you, as it helped Mary”.

I am the Lord’s servant, let what you say be done to me.

 

Lk 1:26-38 Behold, you will coneive in your womb and bear a son. In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, you who enjoy God’s favour! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.