DAILY HOMILIES #Mother of Jesus

Mary is blessed because she gave birth to Jesus but, more importantly, because she heard God’s word and obeyed it. She gave her fiat (I agree) to God when the Angel Gabriel announced to her that she would be God’s mother. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38). This is the same attitude Jesus expects of us when he said “blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

Mary knew when to speak and when to be silent. In today’s Gospel passage, Mary “treasured everything in her heart.” She practised contemplative prayer, which some saints have described as the most perfect form.

Dear friends, every time we celebrate the Mass, we join Jesus and His disciples in the Upper Room; the place where God comes to meet ordinary humans. It is important to mention that it was in this same Upper Room that the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost. When next you are present at mass, know that you are in the Upper Room; the most powerful room on earth.

Today we celebrate the fact that Mary intercedes for Africa. When Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph took shelter in Africa. At a time when our continent is faced with turmoil, suffering under the yoke of neo-colonialism, we need Mother Mary’s intercession more than ever.