It is time now for us, as Lay Carmelites, to rejoice
in this beautiful feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Our Lady is the example
and standard of who we are as Carmelites and how we are to live our lives as
followers of Jesus Christ.
In the Holy Gospel of St. Luke, chapter one, we hear
of the angel Gabriel approaching Mary and say to her, “Hail, Full of Grace! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28).
Mary’s love of God was always the center of who she was. She was constantly
open to the Will of God in her life. When the angel told her that she was to be
the mother of the Messiah, she at first was confused and questioned how can
this be since she was not yet in a relationship with a man. The angel responded
that the Holy Spirit will descend upon her and she will conceive by the power
of the Holy Spirit. Rather than say, “No way!”, she responds: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
Mary’s trust in God’s Will
in her life is to be an example of how we are to live out our lives. First, she
always lived in the presence of God. She knew that God was always with her no
matter what was happening in her life. So, as a result, her life was a constant
prayer to God. She was what we would call an Active Contemplative. Second,
though she knew that being the mother of the Messiah would cause many hardships
in her life, she accepted it and put her trust in God’s love and protection.
Pope St. Paul VI wrote
of Mary, “Yet above all else it was faith that most characterized the Mother of
God – the kind of faith that does not need proof but accepts a thing as true
because God has spoken it.”
Pope St. Paul VI goes
on to say, “It must be our habit to meditate, to wait, to question; to be
self-possessed, to be free and calm, to be definite in judging and acting.” We
do all this in imitation of Mary who lived out her life knowing that God was
ever present to her.
Let us offer our whole
life to the Will of God. Let us make our whole life that of prayer towards God,
realizing that God is always present to us no matter what struggles we may be
facing. In whatever happens in our lives, let us, with Mary, pray, “May it be
done according to your word.”
Beautiful reflection, Deacon Tom! I like the description of being an "Active Contemplative" & I can relate to that.
ReplyDeleteI could never relate to being a full time contemplative: spending hours in silence & spending hours totally devoted to prayer. But I definitely can relate to acknowledging the Presence of GOD & His work in my life as I go about my various activities & interaction with people & while driving & listening to contemporary Christian music on the radio. I can "lift up my mind & heart to GOD" to ask for help, to thank Him for the many ways He helps me & for the beauty of nature around me throughout my busy day.
YES, Our Lady is a perfect model of faith, which also includes the ability to ask questions & to ponder.