FAITH AND VOCATION

September 30, 2016

The Role of Faith in RESPONDING To

AND Living Out a Divine Vocation

The Annunciation

Texts and Questions for Meditation and Reflection

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"

And the angel said to her in reply, "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. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Do I share the longing of ancient Israel? What is my deepest longing? Is my disposition akin to that of Mary? Have I allowed failures, trials, and temptations against faith to purify my longing for God? What can I do to foster a greater expectation and longing for Jesus? Silence? Prayer? Less materialism and more spiritual endeavors?

What were Mary’s fears when the angel appeared to her? How did she overcome them? Do I let my initial fears paralyze me from saying “yes” to God? Do I “rush in where angels fear to tread” without holy fear, presuming upon God or upon my own strengths? Or do I place too much emphasis on my own weaknesses and/or fret the future sufferings and never face what God is asking? What must I do differently? I believe Lord, help my disbelief!

Looking back on my life, can I see the connections in the various stages of my life? What have been my “yeses” to God and how have they come together to bring me to where I am today? In faith, can I trust God to show me just the next 30 yards of the journey without needing to see all of the future unfolded before me? Faith grows by believing. What is the next act of faith that the Lord is asking me to make? Let Mary whisper to you, “Do not be afraid! Do whatever He tells you!”

Why do we thank Mary for saying “yes” to God? Why do we thank one another for doing the same? Do we? Do we encourage one another to respond to God? How does that benefit them? Us? Others? How has the faith of others brought you to this point in your life? Has Jesus said to you “arise, take up your mat” after “seeing their faith”? Does this not give you confidence? Have you downplayed the significance of your own “yeses” to God? What is He asking of you now? What will be your response? Can Jesus now say to others “arise, take up your mat” upon “seeing your faith”?

Am I a man of my word? Is my “yes” for the moment or for all that the present “yes” includes for the future? Is my love faithful? In conceiving and bearing Christ, will I also consent to standing with Him in His suffering over the long haul? Do I believe in His fidelity?

The Visitation

Texts and Questions for Meditation and Reflection

During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

What must have been Mary’s experience when the Holy Spirit overshadowed her? What must have been her joy at having God within? What has been your experience upon saying “yes” in faith to God? Has there been joy? Has this joy created strength within you? Is there the temptation to keep it for oneself or has there been the need to go and share it with someone else? Have I been generous in sharing the “great things” that God has done for me with others? What have been some of the difficulties that I have faced? How did Mary’s faith give her the confidence to go forward in serving others amidst dangers and her own weakness? Cannot God give me that same deep faith? Lord I believe, help my disbelief!

How do I want to spend my life? Am I attentive to the needs of others? Do I long to see Jesus? Where do I “see” Jesus? Does my faith allow me to see Him on the face of the suffering? Do others see Him shining radiantly on my face? Why or why not?

Have I been surprised by love? What have been some of the “wonderful happenings” in my life as a result of a simple “reaching out” to help someone in need?

How do I “bring Jesus to where He has never been before?” Do I sometimes go without Him? Do I remain with Him and refuse to go? Might God be calling me to bring Him to others as a priest or consecrated person?