The Big Yes

The "Yes" that changed it all.

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!"

29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.

30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end."

34 And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?"

35 And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.

36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

37 For with God nothing will be impossible."

38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.-Luke1:26-38

As I read the Gospel reading, I was touched by its beauty. It was a story of a young girl who said "Yes" to God's invitation through the Angel Gabriel. It was a story of two miracles - a barren and past-childbearing woman having a child at last, and a young virgin girl having a child through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a story of how salvation started. Before, everybody rejoiced at this miracle event. We are saved! Now, as we progressed scientifically, technologically and philosophically, as our minds continue to explore unchartered truths, many of us question if this miracle event happened at all. Thus, questioning Jesus' existence at all. Worse, questioning God's existence.

Many great events happened in history. Some we still remember, others faded to obscurity. Sometimes these stories turn a different path - Events become History, History becomes Legend, Legend becomes Myth, and Myth becomes a Tale for kids alone to hear.

As followers of Jesus, we are tasked to be active participants in spreading our salvation story. This can be done, not only through repentance and reconciliation with God during the Twin Seasons of Advent and Christmas, but by being active participants in the cycle of Jesus' birth, ministry, death and resurrection through our continuous renewal, resurrection and conversion. The story becomes alive if we live it out at present. Also, the constant retelling of how it all started through Mary should be remembered always. Let's not turn our salvation story into a mere historical event only, or a legend, or a myth, or a fairytale, rather, let us not be afraid to believe and to show that it is the Truth that we have been waiting for. Let us not downgrade Mary because the mission is hers and hers alone. Without her "Yes," salvation might not have happened at all.

Image courtesy: Philippe de Champaigne (Annunciation) and artist