Behold Your Handmaid

By: Sister Jeannine Marie, O.C.D.

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” These words hold within them a depth of mystery one can hardly fathom. We all know that any celebration of Mary is first and foremost a celebration of her Son, Jesus. The feast of the Annunciation is such a celebration. What are the mysteries contained within this feast? Let us take a moment to look at Mary to find the mysteries related to her Son.

Mary was a young girl living a simple life in Nazareth when the Angel Gabriel appeared to her and turned her world upside down. She was asked to consent to one of the most sublime tasks – to be the mother of God! This is the first mystery – “The virgin will be with Child.” We can only imagine the expectant hush that fell upon the heavenly realm, as they awaited Mary’s answer. Why?

Because Mary’s “yes” would reverberate throughout the ages into eternity. For in her simple “fiat,” Mary would join heaven and earth together in the greatest of all mysteries – the Incarnation — “…and the Word was made flesh.” This humble maiden’s consent set in motion the promise made in a Garden long before, and the fulfillment of a waiting people.

Yes, Mary is the gateway to her Son. Let us honor her today as she always seeks to lead us ever closer to her Divine Son.

Mar 25, 2020 | Blogs, Featured, Our Faith, Reflections

Related Posts

The Happy Fault

The Happy Fault

God could have created a perfect world. He could have arranged things so as to prevent us from falling into the pit by our sinful, despicable actions. He’s all powerful, after all. This would have been so easy for God. But that’s not how He decided to do things. He decided to preserve our free will, to solicit our love and obedience, risking not receiving the honor and regard due to Him. We fall many times, we fall again and again. In fact, it could be called an eternal let-down by us, the creature, in reference to the Creator.

Merciful Like the Father

Merciful Like the Father

One of the most liberating gifts that we can receive from the Heart of our Heavenly Father and Jesus, our Savior, is the free gift of mercy. But do you sometimes find yourself struggling to receive this gift? I mean really receive, in the innermost depth of your being with unshakable certainty?

Our Merciful Mother

Our Merciful Mother

In the Anáhuac Valley of Mexico, on a barren hill called Tepeyac, Our Lady of Guadalupe came as a “merciful Mother,” a healer and restorer of all who are broken in body and in spirit. It is an amazing thought to consider that the “woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars” would place her feet upon the bloodstained soil of a nation’s festering woundedness.