Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! The third article of the Apostle’s Creed is “Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary” There are nineteen (19) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 511.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is said to be a ‘cooperator in Salvation’ because she was always working with the Lord whose ‘handmade’ she is (cf. Luke 1:38). The Blessed Virgin Mary was cooperating in our salvation when she agreed to God’s plan revealed by the Archangel Gabriel (cf. Luke 1:26-38). The Blessed Virgin Mary cooperated in our salvation in calling for the first miracle of the Lord’s public life at the wedding feast of Cana (John 2:1-11).
The Blessed Virgin Mary is an exemplar of Faith because she believed not only in God in whose presence she now lives for all eternity but also what He revealed through the Archangel Gabriel. The Blessed Virgin Mary kept faith even as she waited with the Apostles in prayer in the upper room for the Resurrection of the Lord having pondered on the Word in her heart (cf. Luke 2:19; John 20:19).
The Blessed Virgin Mary was obedient not only to God’s call in her life, but also called others to obedience to her Son: ‘Do whatever he tells you’ (John 2:5).
The Blessed Virgin Mary said ‘yes’ to God’s plan of salvation. She said ‘yes’ to become the Mother of God. She said ‘yes’ to her Son’s saving death and resurrection, standing faithfully at the foot of the Cross (John 19:25). Mary’s ‘yes’ to God implies a no to sin and Satan.
When the Blessed Virgin Mary said ‘yes’ to God and His plan for her and our salvation she spoke for all people, even as Eve spoke with Adam for all people.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is recognized by Mother Church as the ‘new Eve’ not merely the ‘mother of living’ but the mother of all those who live in her Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The faithful obedience of the Blessed Virgin Mary is in contrast with the disobedience of Eve.
We consider the Blessed Virgin Mary because of her intrinsic role in salvation history. As the Mother of God, our Savior Jesus Christ we honor her and revere her as Queen of the holy Angels and Saints, of Heaven and Earth. We do this not only during those months dedicated to her (May and October) but every day, ‘now and at the hour of our death.’
May we ever be people of Faith, like the Blessed Virgin Mary. May we always say yes to God and no to the devils and sin. May we cooperate in God’s plan of salvation for ourselves and all the world, like the Blessed Virgin Mary before us and with her intercession.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr