John Paul II
“Mary Does not Raise Objections About God’s
Future”
Our Lady teaches the path to a mature freedom. The necessity
for being educated
to freedom is found in John Paul II’s moving testimony during his latest
apostolic journey to Slovakia
“
Behold the handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38), says Mary in the Gospel passage
which we have just heard. She speaks to the Angel Gabriel who communicates to
her God’s call to become the mother of His Son. The Incarnation of the
Word is the decisive moment in that “project” made known by God from
the beginning of human history, after the first sin. His will is to communicate
to mankind His very life, by calling men and women to become His children. This
call awaits the response of each person. God does not impose salvation; He proposes
it as an initiative of love, to which one must reply by free choice, prompted
by love.
The dialogue between the Angel and Mary, between heaven and earth, is in this
sense paradigmatic: let us draw from it some indications for ourselves.
The Angel reveals God’s expectations for the future of mankind. Mary replies
by drawing attention responsibly to her present situation: she is engaged to
Joseph, promised as his spouse (cf. Lk 1:34). Mary does not raise objections
to the future prepared by God; she asks for light on the present human circumstances
in which she is involved. God responds to her request by entering into dialogue
with her. He wishes to deal with persons who are responsible and free. In all
this, what is the lesson for us? Mary shows us the path toward a mature freedom.
In our days, many baptized Christians have not yet made the faith their own in
an adult and conscious way. They call themselves Christians and yet they do not
respond in a fully responsible way to the grace they have received; they still
do not know what they want and why they want it.
This is the lesson to be learned today: an education to freedom is urgently needed.
Especially in the family, parents must educate their children to a correct freedom,
so as to prepare them to respond properly to God’s call. The family is
the nursery where the little plants, the new generations, are nurtured. In the
family the future of the Nation is forged. “Behold, I am the handmaid of
the Lord, let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Mary believes
and therefore she says “yes.” Her faith becomes life; it becomes
a commitment to God, who fills her with Himself through her divine motherhood.
It becomes a commitment to her neighbor, who awaits her help in the person of
her cousin Elisabeth (cf. Lk 1:39-56). Mary abandons herself freely and consciously
to God’s initiative, which will achieve in her His “marvellous things”:
mirabilia Dei. With the Virgin Mary’s example before us, we are invited
to reflect: God has a project for each of us, He “calls” everyone.
What is important is knowing how to recognize this call, how to accept it, and
how to be faithful to it. My dear Brothers and Sisters, let us make room for
God! In the variety and richness of diverse vocations, each one is called, like
Mary, to accept God into one’s own life and to travel along the paths of
the world with Him, proclaiming His Gospel and bearing witness to His love. May
this be the resolution that we all make together today and that we place confidently
in Mary’s maternal hands. May her intercession obtain for us the gift of
a strong faith that makes clear the scope of our life and enlightens our mind,
our spirit, and our heart. Amen!
Banská Bystrica, homily of Friday,
September 12, 2003