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The whole Christian story begins here. It begins in a remote village in an obscure and troublesome province of the Roman Empire. It begins with a young girl, probably with little formal education, receiving this extraordinary invitation from God through his Messenger. It is a disturbing invitation as she is told she is going to be a mother before she begins to live with the man to whom she is being given in marriage. Not only that, the Child she is to bear is to be called 'Son of God'. Putting her trust in the word of God, she says with utter simplicity and without any conditions, "Yes". "I am the slave-girl of the Lord; let it happen to me according to your word." It was a promise she was to keep for the rest of her life in spite of the pains and sorrows that came with it. Let us thank Mary for her total acceptance of God's will in her life and for making His will also her own. May we be inspired today to follow her example. Teach me, Lord, to hear You calling me and give me the grace and strength to answer that call enerously. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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That in the many rapid changes taking place in today's world, the importance of the family may be recognised in its fundamental vocation as cradle of life and school of faith and right values
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The family as a domestic Church and cradle of life is the appropriate setting in which faith can increase. It is here that faith can be nourished through an attitude of appreciation of the treasure which parents are called on to transmit to their children through personal words and testimonies of life. This attitude must then be nourished with a sense of wonder and hope and it must be contemplated as Mary contemplated it in the face of the Word she received and the events of her life. This deep sense of faith helps parents and their children to fulfil the vocation received from God. Parents, teaching their children and bearing witness to the true sense of suffering and dying, lead the young to be more attentive to all forms of suffering. They, thus develop positive attitudes of assistance and sharing with others, especially with weaker people like the sick and the aged. This life of faith must be continually nourished through individual and family prayer. On the strength of this foundation the family becomes a place for training in justice, self-control, temperance, respect for the personal dignity of each individual and the service of the poor and needy. | |
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