Humility and obedience of Mary in today’s time

Remember the story of the Annunciation by angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary that she was to be the mother of the Messiah?  This story embodies these two virtues of Mary – humility and obedience.

Humility
When angel Gabriel told Mary that she was chosen by God to be the mother of the Messiah, she did not immediately accept it. She asked, “How can this be for I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34) This is a vary valid question from a young girl of about 14 years old.  How can she become pregnant when she had no relations whatsoever with a man!  Then the angel explained to her that “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)

Surprised and taken aback by the words of the angel, she may have looked at Gabriel as if telling him, “I don’t believe you!” So the angel further told her that her cousin, “Elizabeth, in her old age is now pregnant because nothing is impossible with God.”  (Luke 1:36)

Then Mary gave her fiat: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Humility as simply defined in the dictionary is a modest or low view of one’s own importance. But it is, in fact, an important core value of our faith as St. Augustine said, “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance..” This is truly seen in Mary. Although she saw herself enriched with greater graces than all other creatures, she never preferred herself to anyone. She referred to herself as the lowly servant, the handmaid of the Lord.  

Humility also means to speak your mind so that you have explanations for what is going on, what is happening around. It is also the truth.  It is not blindly saying yes without understanding the implications, especially in making commitments as in Holy Matrimony, or being sworn to public office.  The vow we make in marriage is given the corresponding sanctifying grace of God to see us through. Same as when someone holds public office. Commitments call for humility in the service of love.

Even to our own selves, we must be humble enough to acknowledge when we realise that we have done something wrong or we failed to do something we ought to do. 

Obedience
Mary’s obedience is clearly unfolded in the story of the Annunciation, by her words “May it be done to me according to your word.” This obedience of Mary is the antidote for Eve’s disobedience. Recall in the story of Creation, specifically the part when the serpent, or the devil, tempted Eve by luring her to disobey God. The serpent told Eve that in so doing, she will be equal with God.  (Genesis 3:4-5) What she does not know is the aftermath of that sweet pleasure appealing to her pride. She forgot the advice of God not to eat the forbidden fruit. She lost her mind to the present pleasure. So original sin was born, born out of pride and disobedience of Eve.   

Says St. Thomas of Villanova, referring to Mary, as the “faithful handmaid who never, in either thought or word or deed, contradicted the Most High; but entirely despoiled of her own will, she lived always and in all things obedient to that of God.” Mary was focused on the Will of God for her.  As St. Bernardine puts it, “Because Mary was free from Original Sin … what she does is to keep her eyes constantly fixed on God, to discover his will, and, when she had found out what he required, to perform it.”  This brought reparation for the evil done by Eve and thus made possible the restoration salvation of mankind.  

Obedience is embodied in Mary as she melts to the will of God. Her free will is thus the will of God, given in complete surrender.    

In this time of the Covid 19 pandemic, we are given guidelines to follow so as to help stop the spread of this virus. As we protect ourselves, we are protecting others and paying attention to their safety as well. Let us humble ourselves and comply with these guidelines. Behind and beyond this pandemic, God speaks to us. Let us uncover his message and follow Mary’s example of obedience.

Let us all move towards a community that is protected from the Covid-19 virus and other disasters. 

              

Ma. Rosario Rote-Tejada