Fiat 2017!

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120817.cfm) reminds me to submit and always say yes to God. 

When I was new to the community, my shepherd would always tell me that whenever I am asked to do things, to serve, or to take on responsibility, the answer should always be yes. “Yes lang ng yes”. Always say yes, even if you don’t know how you would do it. Just say yes even if you have concerns. Just say yes even if you doubt if you can do it. Say yes even if you do not know what it will take to do it. 

This is what Mama Mary did as we see in the gospel. 

Mary’s Fiat, her “yes” to God was the start of her powerful life of service to God. It became the start of God using her intensely for His purpose.

Mama Mary was surprised when the angel visited her, much more when the angel addressed her as “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” She was even more surprised when the angel told her God’s plan. Yes, she asked a question, but eventually said yes. She may not know what she’s getting herself into. She probably knew the consequences of saying “yes” during that time, being pregnant outside marriage is a grave offense. She would be stoned for it. But she still said yes to God’s plan. She trusted in God so much, that even if there were doubts, even if there were questions, even if there were possible consequences of her yes, she still gave it to God. That’s faith. That’s grace.

Always saying Yes is a sign of great faith in God.

As we commemorate and celebrate Mary’s Immaculate Conception today, may we also rejoice, not just because Mary was conceived without original sin, but because God loves us so much. In the first reading we see how sin entered to this world. But Mama Mary changed that. God wanted Jesus’ earthly mother to be pure, because God wants to show us what we can become when we come to Him. Jesus died to save us from our sin, a sin that he, or his mother, did not have. That’s pure love. And the bible tells us that we are new creations if we are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The second reading affirms that “God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.”

As we participate in the celebration of the holy mass today (being one of three holy days of obligation in the Philippines, the other two being Christmas (Dec 25) and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1)), may we rejoice with and for Mama Mary. May we feel extra blessed because Mary, our mother, was so special to God and to Jesus. Let us ask for God’s grace so we could be like Mary, who consistently said Yes to God and gave her life for God. Let us also remember the words of Pope Francis: “Every time we give in to selfishness and say no to God, we spoil his loving plan for us.”

Do I always give my “fiat” to God, even if I don’t fully understand what He is asking of me? What is hindering me from always saying “yes” to God’s call? Do I trust God completely with my life, knowing that He loves me so much? Do I have faith that like the angel said in the gospel, nothing is impossible with God?

May we always be inspired by Mama Mary's great faith in God, and in our own ways, always give our yes to Him. 

Father God,

Thank you today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you Lord for loving me so much. Thank you for giving me what I do not deserve. Thank you for Mama Mary, Jesus’ earthly mother, for you used her to bring salvation to us. Thank you for her example. Sorry for the times I make up excuses to say no to you. Sorry for the times I let my fear and concerns win over my faith in you. Sorry not having enough faith in you. I ask that you help me be like Mama Mary. May I open up myself and my life and allow you to use me for your purpose, for your glory. Lord, I know how powerful a spoken word is, and I ask that I give my “yes” to you, so you can use me for your purpose too. May I live my life like Mary, submitting my will to yours, and trusting in you completely. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 8, 2017
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 689

Reading 1GN 3:9-15, 20

After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,
the LORD God called to the man and asked him, "Where are you?"
He answered, "I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself."
Then he asked, "Who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!"
The man replied, "The woman whom you put here with meC
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it."
The LORD God then asked the woman,
"Why did you do such a thing?"
The woman answered, "The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it."

Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
"Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel."

The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.

Responsorial PsalmPS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4

R. (1) Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.

Reading 2EPH 1:3-6, 11-12

Brothers and sisters:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him. 
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.

In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.

AlleluiaSEE LK 1:28

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin's name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel,
"How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?"
And the angel said to her in reply,
"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."

Then the angel departed from her.