Yes: Weekly Message for 08-08-2023

Dear Friends in Christ

And Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Pope Benedict XVI once observed that, in some sense, the entire Christian life is summed up in Christ’s words that healed the deaf and mute man: “Ephphatha – Be Opened” (Mark 7:34). Our calling is not primarily to do great things for God — although he promises us unimaginable glory. Our calling is not primarily to bring God’s Word to others — although he tells us that we will be his witnesses in every time and place. Our calling is not primarily to be good people — although goodness is certainly part of the Christian vocation.

As Christians we are called, first and foremost, to say yes to God’s love, to allow him to open our hearts and give us his life. Indeed, the greatest of all saints, whose Assumption we celebrate on August 15, did not build churches, preach the gospel in foreign lands, cure illnesses or raise the dead. In fact, she speaks only seven times in Sacred Scripture. But Our Lady was wholly opened to God; her entire life was a great yes to his love.

Our Lord is always at work to open our hearts, and “he will not grow tired or weary” (Isaiah 40:28-31). He asks simply for our yes. And that response, repeated — at times hesitantly, at times eagerly — in life’s many seasons, opens our hearts to new depths of God’s action and his love.

Mary, our Mother and Our Queen, whose entire life was a great Yes to God, pray for us!

In Christ,

Fr. John Pietropaoli, LC
Two Priests and a Mic podcaster