"Risen Lamb Writings"
"Whispers of Light" (part 13)
From the moment of the Annunciation,
Mary internalized and embraced fully the
words spoken to her by God through the angel, Gabriel, "For nothing will be
impossible for God" (Luke 1:37). These words were to become the very fabric
of Mary's life of faith. She believed
that from the "seed" of God's promise there would always come forth a "harvest"
of fulfillment. At the Annunciation Mary entrusted herself with all her heart,
mind and will to the promise of God. She is the woman of hope who, like
Abraham, "believed, hoping against hope" (Rom. 4:18). Mary lived her
whole life with the certainty that God was near to her, and that God
fulfills His promises. This is the certitude that Mary desires to form intercessors
in. She:
"Did not doubt God's promise in
unbelief; rather, [she] was empowered by faith and gave glory to God and was
fully convinced that what he had promised he was also able to do" (Rom.
4:20-21).
At the
Visitation Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, confirms the true depth of
Mary's faith when she says:
"Blessed are you who believed that
what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled" (Luke 1:45).
From the Annunciation onward, Mary's response
in faith would shape her very inner being:
"I am the servant of the Lord. May it
be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38).
One can
never grow weary of citing Mary's consent; for, it constitutes the very nature
of her inmost being, the sanctuary of her heart. Mary allowed God to possess
her completely. The bold, fundamental truth, "For nothing will be impossible
for God", can only be received and believed steadfastly by a "Marian"-formed
heart: A heart formed in Marian faith, Marian trust and Marian surrender.
At the Annunciation Mary "believed,
hoping against hope"; on Calvary, standing at the foot of the cross as she
witnessed the dying of "her Lamb", Mary "believed, hoping against hope"; and,
in the upper room as Jesus spoke the words, " Behold, I am sending the promise
of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power
from on high" (Luke 24:49), Mary "believed, hoping against hope." Here too,
she was convinced that, "Nothing will be impossible for God." In the upper room
at these words of her crucified-resurrected Son, Mary was again able to respond
with a mature heart, "May it be done to me according to your word." Yet
now, Mary speaks these words not only for herself, but also on behalf of each
of those who not only accompany her in the upper room on the day of Pentecost,
but also on behalf of every heart that will ever open itself to receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit in the age of the Church. Mary recognizes the voice of
her Spouse, the Holy Spirit in the words of Jesus. Yes, He will come. He will descend
again: "God, [will remember] his mercy, according to his promise" (Luke
1:54,55).
It is absolutely imperative that
intercessors have Marian hearts, minds, spirits and wills. With Mary, God
desires us to dare to believe that "Nothing will be impossible for God" to do
in our age. We are to live and pray with this certainty, standing boldly in the
breach with courage and perseverance. Regardless of how dark and troubling our
times may become, we dare to believe that the Lamb who was slain has already received
the scroll containing the history of our present age and has already broken
open its seals (see Rev. 5;6;8). He is Lord of all ages, all times and all
history!:
"Blessed are those who have not
seen and have believed" (John 20:29).
Questions:
1) Are
there any current, personal promises of God that I am "standing on" with faith
and praying towards their fulfillment?
2) In
what ways does my sense of "Marian" faith, trust and surrender still need to
grow and mature?
Scriptures:
Any scripture from the text; Ps. 116:10; Mt. 9:28-29; Mt.
15:28; Rom. 10:17; 1Cr. 16:13-14
