From the Friars: Active Participants
This Friday we celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord. This mystery recalls when the Blessed Virgin Mary gave Her complete ‘Yes’ to God’s plan to become incarnate in her womb. It is also called the Solemnity of the Incarnation. We too, like Mary, are called to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and to allow Christ to become incarnate in ourselves and in our world, “so that God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28).
The Annunciation, by Paolo de Matteis – Saint Louis Art Museum official site, Public Domain, Link
Many people underestimate the importance of The Virgin in the history of salvation. They think that Mary was some passive instrument that God used only to accomplish His Will, or a pious woman at best.
I, however, would like to propose that Mary’s role can be summed up in just two simple words: active participation. Mary was chosen by God to be the worthy dwelling place of the Eternal Son of the Father. She gave birth not only to Christ’s humanity but also to His divinity in time.
But she was not a passive instrument, rather, she freely and fully consented to God’s marvelous plan.
Mary’s consent can be compared to that of a couple on their wedding day. There is not a complete understanding of everything that will come but there is trust, love and confidence in the grace of God and the vows that bind one spouse to the other. St. Francis used to call Mary, The Spouse of the Holy Spirit!
I believe that Francis had a deep lived experience of the joy, freedom and excitement that comes from binding oneself to God’s Will, and our active participation in God’s plan through the Holy Spirit.
In Eucharistic Prayer IV, there is explicit mention of the Annunciation. “And you so loved the world, Father most holy, that you sent your Only Begotten Son to be our Savior. Made incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, he shared our human nature in all things but sin”. Soon after is the Epiclesis, the coming of the Holy Spirit over the bread and wine on the altar.
As active participants, did you know that you celebrate the Annunciation every time you attend Mass? The Spirit transforms the offerings into the Body and Blood of Christ!
— Father Francis.