Mary the First Christian

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 22, 2013

Luke 1:26-38

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. (Luk 1:38)"

Mary is not only the most outstanding Christian, she is in fact the first and most faithful Christian.  The event of Annunciation became the tipping-point episode of humanity as well as of entire created universe. The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive the Son of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. In her utter simplicity, she could not understand, “How can this be, since I did have any relation with a man? (Luk 1:34)”. Yet, one thing she held firm was that nothing is impossible for God. Mary in her freedom consented to God’s liberating will. The entire cosmos that had waited in angst rejoiced exultantly in her ‘Fiat’.

Mary turned to be the first Christian as she gave her nod to God’s invitation. She became the first person who received Christ not only in her soul but in her womb. A perfect reception of Christ! Because of this, Mary was made the splendid model of Christians of all ages. Like Mary, we are graciously invited by God to receive Christ in us, and in freedom, we submit and open ourselves to God. Thus, in baptism, we receive Christ in our soul and are incorporated into his Body the Church. In his love, God offers His only Begotten Son in the Eucharist to us so that we may receive the fullness of Christ not only in our soul but in entire our being. We may not comprehend why God chose us, how He entered our life and how Christ is truly in the Eucharist, but Just like Mary, we lift up our heart to the Lord and confidently say that nothing is impossible for God.

However, accepting Christ in our life is always a radical choice. Often, it entails a perilous and life-threatening. Mary was pregnant practically outside marriage and one was certain for woman like Mary, that is death penalty and indeed, with Jesus around, Mary’s life was no longer ‘normal’. Even, as Jesus ended his earthly life in tragic end, Mary became the sharer of Christ’s cross. Yet, in the face of these utter trials and dangers, Mary did not waver and stood her ground to the end. While other male disciples betrayed, denied and run away from Jesus, Mary was there at the feet of the cross, not weeping, not kneeling and not complaining, she was standing with firmness of heart looking at the fruit of her womb murdered like an animal. Just like Mary, our life with Christ may draw many undesirable consequences: being honest while other do not, being truthful while other tell lie, and being forgiving while other seek vengeance. Yet, we learn from Mary that with Christ we are empowered to stand our ground to the end.

Mary was taken up to heaven because she was the most outstanding Christian and we can be certain that we will be taken up to heaven because we follow the footstep of Mary, the first and the most faithful Christian.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP