Mary, Mother of “Yes”

The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Sonny de Rivera SVD – Rome

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord – March 25

The Feast of the Annunciation confers on Mary yet another title – Mary, the Mother of “Yes.” Mary’s yes significantly altered salvation history, channeling the Father’s love to sending His Son to walk with us, become one of us and take on our flesh. Mary’s yes also brought Jesus to embracing his own yes that ultimately led to the cross and his resurrection.

At the Annunciation, Mary was caught tongue-tied and unsure whether to say “yes,” to becoming a handmaid of the Lord and to a divine plan so vast, so profound and complex.“How can this be?” That startling invitation was disrupting the planned course of her life. Here Mary teaches us to say yes by faith, to be willing to face downsides that come with that “yes” and to commit to it even though the expectations are cloudy and vague.

As the Mother of “yes,” Mary assures us that every “coming of the Holy Spirit” in our lives impregnates us with God’s word in the fullest sense. When we embrace the call, our yes overturns the noises in our life; the insecurities and fears slowly vanish into oblivion. She reminds us that every time we say “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth” we echo her “yes”: “Be it done unto me according to your word.”

Time and again, God whispers his invitations to us. Will we accept his love and willingly bring it to others? Will we trust in His providence, even when we can’t see the path ahead? Mary’s acceptance of the angel’s message also reflects our own vocation – our own calling from God. May the Lord grant us the grace to take the path of knowing how to say “yes” like Mary did.