MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD AND OUR MOTHER.

Rev. Nguyễn Bá Thông.

No one on earth, particularly those who lived in the time of Mary, can believe a simple, humble, and quiet girl of Nazareth became the Mother of God and was lifted into Heaven both soul and body. While “Old Eve” trusted only in her selfishness Mary, the “New Eve”, totally trusted in God, who could do every amazing thing. She believed some day the human race would be saved. She believed her pregnancy was from the Holy Spirit. She believed her son in her womb was the Second Person of the Trinity of God. She also firmly believed that she would be in heaven with her Son. It is because of her belief that Elizabeth cried out in blessing, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1: 45) She became a brilliant example to all Christians.

So are our lives! Though we are in hardships and struggle in the “muddy pool” of sins if we have a faith as great as the one of our Mother God will do us wonderful things beyond our expectation. Every one of us has some “sinful moments” we want nobody to know about, bad passions we cover up carefully. To elevate ourselves, we have to believe in God as Mary did.

My dear friends, the belief without obedience is empty and meaningless. Beside a total trust in God, Our heavenly Mother has an absolute obedience to the Lord’s all orders and commandments. If not, she did not have to bear the Son of God, depart to Egypt, and to witness the painful, shameful, and disgraceful death of her own Son on the cross. Our Mother’s life was a series of days of “Fiat” of a humble servant of the Lord.

Finally, with her perfect trust and absolute obedience, Mary lived all out the humility. Humility does not mean to deny the graces God gives. It does not mean to hypocritically refuse the praises from the others.

The late Pope John II said, “Humility is the Truth.” The true humility is to recognize the truth and dare to face it. Mary knew well she only was a humble servant but was rewarded by God. She was joyful saying, “For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.” Certainly indeed, from age to age, the Church has unceasingly praised her with the angel’s and Elizabeth’s very greeting words, “Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.”

Do you and I dare to face our vocation to be “the children of God”? Do we dare to follow our Mother’s “Fiat Example” to be called “full-of-grace” people?

Grace and Peace,

Fr. Martin Nguyễn Bá Thông.

top of page