In her own words I

Saturdays are often considered to be the day of Mary, the Blessed Mother.  It is a day in which we set aside a few moments to ponder what kind of gift is this to us.  What kind of love does God have for us that he gives us a mother so tender and so mild yet so keenly aware of God's will and plan in our life. 

This day will be devoted to Mary and her words in scripture.

What were Mary's first words in scripture.  We must go to Luke 1:34. 

Here the angel declares unto Mary that she will conceive and bear a son, naming him Jesus, and he will be great in dignity and will be the son of the Most High.  He will be given the throne of David and rule over the house of Jacob forever and his reign will without end. 

wow!

What kind of introduction is this.  Most parents would be overwhelmed to hear all of that about their child.  Most parents desire greatness from their children and work hard at making that possible.  Most would be excited about having the inside scoop into their child's life for it surely would alleviate stress, worry and anxiety. 

Yet, Mary's words echo with great force as she responds to this inauguration of Jesus into history, "How can this be..."

Mary, the mother of God, Virgin of virgins, conceived without sin, responds in a way we might not expect, "How can this be since I have no husband?"

Mary in her humility and in her deep sense of reality recognizes her own inexperience.  She is way to inexperienced to be given all this and to handle all this.  

Her inexperience will become her greatest attribute.  She doesn't need all the experiences to be an instrument of grace. She simple just needs to be and God does the rest. Her inexperience keeps her from betraying God's favor and love. 

It was Adam and Eve's inexperience in the garden that led to the fall and disorder of sin to affect us all.  It will be Mary's inexperience that will lead Jesus to the garden to reawaken humanity from its fallen state and introduce the power of grace to us all.  

How can this be...?  The answer to the question finds it source in the angel's salutation, "Hail full of grace."  

"How can this be..."

God's favor...

that is how...

The mystery of the future can be overwhelming; the uncertainty of tomorrow can be weighty; the anxiety about things to come can be blinding; yet the mystery of God's favor is always ready to claim hold of our doubt; the mystery of God's strength is always ready to claim hold of our weakness; the mystery of God's experienced hands is always ready to steady our hands of inexperience.  

How can this be...?

God's favor will see us through!