杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Saying 鈥淗ere I am鈥� with Mary is the greatest praise we can give to God. 杏MAP导航 Francis focused on these words of Mary before reciting the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St Peter鈥檚 Square on Saturday, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Adam and Mary

杏MAP导航 Francis contrasted Adam鈥檚 response to God 鈥淚 hid myself鈥�, and Mary鈥檚 response, 鈥淗ere I am鈥� during his reflections before leading the faithful in the recitation of the Angelus. Hiding from God 鈥渃loses oneself off, isolates, makes the person remain alone with him or herself鈥�. Here I am, instead, opens us to God, 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

Here I am

The secret and key word for life is Here I am, the 杏MAP导航 continued. It helps us begin living a life directed toward God instead of toward ourselves. Placing our bet on the Lord, saying Here I am, 鈥渋s the greatest praise that we can offer Him鈥�, he said. And he added that it is a beautiful way to begin each day.

According to You

By saying 鈥淟et it be done to be according to your word鈥�, Mary shows us that she did not live 鈥渁ccording to me鈥�, but 鈥渁ccording to You鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis said she never thought: 鈥淚鈥檒l dedicate myself a little bit to Him, I鈥檒l get it over with and then I鈥檒l do what I want鈥�. Her complete trust in God is different than many of us who are often suspicious of God. Mary, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, conquered the devil鈥檚 temptation to distrust God with her Here I am. 鈥淎nd together we gaze on the beauty of the Madonna, who was born and who lived without sin, always docile and transparent before God鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said.

Trust in God

Just because Mary entrusted herself to God 鈥渄oes not mean that life was easy for her鈥� or that God magically resolved her problems, 杏MAP导航 Francis continued. Problems began immediately when 鈥渢he angel left her鈥�alone in a difficult situation". She knew what was happening, but no one else did. What she was certain of was that God remained 鈥渨ith her and in her.鈥� Although she did not know what to expect, she believed that 鈥渆verything was going to be okay鈥�, he said. Therefore, Mary teaches us not to live 鈥渄ependent on problems鈥�but trusting God and entrusting ourselves each day to Him鈥�.