Living the Annunciation

The reading for this talk is Luke 1 26-38 - nothing is impossible for God.

Therese of Lisieux - spoke of a desire to be a priest so that she could preach about the real Mary, not the imagined one. 

So we have to think about the real Mary, strong, chapped hands, rounded shoulders from carrying loads, furrowed brow from worrying about her Son - very human.

Mary as a model for everyday life.

The Annunciation narrative is a powerful model for discernment.   There are three stages of the narrative, all vital.

First stage,  the announcement, the facts. 

Second stage, the questioning, the bewilderment, the distress - how can this be?

Then the third stage, the renewed trust in God. 

(The three stages can be thought as 3 words - salutation, sifting, submission)

Think of this in your own lives. 

A change of job or community, a health issue, battling a difficult habit in life, a big fall out with someone - an event is the announcement.

Then the pondering, the struggle, all coming under discernment, where is God in this, what does God want? Impossible to jump to submission without understanding. We take it to prayer, if we have a spiritual director we chat with them, we draw up a little list of pros and cons, we look at our feelings and emotions about it. The baseline is wanting to do God's will in this. 

Finally, the last part, the renewed trust in God - which may be a Yes or a "can we talk about this again?" The presumption is usually in favour of doing what is asked, but not in blind obedience!

Try this with some issue in your life now? 

Mary is a very real model for discernment. 

Cardinal Newman speaking of Mary said - she does not shine of herself or for herself, but when she appears in the darkness we know that God is near. 

Ignatius of Loyola's daily prayer - Mary, put me with your son

Fr Pedro Arrupe SJ - I shall never be at peace till I have achieved a tender love for our most sweet mother, Mary 

 Pope Francis - devotion to Our Lady Untier of Knots.