Mary’s Mission, our Mission

What is your mission in life?

The priest celebrant asked us during his homily in our community mass. To my surprise, he called me first. With no time think and reflect, I said “to love”. But what does that exactly mean in action?
Each one of us has a mission in life. We do not come into this world without a purpose at all. But how shall we know it?

Let us look at Mama Mary, the protomissionary. She knew of her mission from a messenger of God, the Angel Gabriel, that she will become the Mother of the Son of God (Luke 1:32). The Catechism of the Catholic Church reiterates that God chose Mary from eternity (CCC 96). Is it possible that we, too, could learn about our own mission that way? God speaks to us in our hearts every second of our life. Do we listen?
In order to carry out her mission as the Mother of the Son of God, Mary herself was conceived immaculate. This means that, thanks to the grace of God and in anticipation of the merits of Jesus Christ, she was preserved from original sin from the first instant of her conception (CCCC 96).

How does Mary cooperate in the divine plan of salvation? Our Catechism says that by the grace of God Mary was kept free from every personal sin her whole life long. She is the one who is “full of grace” (Luke 1:28), the “all holy”. When the angel announced to her that she would give birth to the “Son of God the Most High” (Luke 1:32), she freely gave her consent with “the obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5). Mary thus gave herself entirely to the person and work of her Son Jesus, espousing wholeheartedly the divine will regarding salvation (CCC 98).

Could it be possible that my mission in life is also to be a mother to the Son of God? In what way could this happen? Jesus says in Luke 8:23, “…My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” This means that I can give birth to Jesus in my life by imitating His ways.
Mama Mary’s mission could be our mission, too. Are we willing to participate in Mama Mary’s mission to bring Jesus to the world?

But I am not immaculately conceived like Mama Mary. I cannot do it as perfectly as she did. We might say. Like Mama Mary God prepares us for the accomplishment of His plan for our life. We may not be sinless like her, but we definitely have a mission and we are being prepared for it. God never sends anyone to a mission without any preparation at all. But at the same time, He gives us the freedom to obey Him. He does not impose Himself upon any one of us even when His plan is the best for us. He knows what is good for us and we can have the joy of living if we allow Him to direct our lives.

How am I being prepared by God? I can look at my own experiences. Have I learned a lesson from them? Am I humbled by my successes and failures? Have I become more loving, understanding and grateful because of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness? If my answer is Yes, I must be becoming more like Jesus.

Immaculate Conception could mean holy living for us. We can start now if we have not done it yet. Let us conceive Jesus in our hearts and in the fullness of time we bring Him to the world. There is no time for delay. So many people are in need of Jesus and Jesus is waiting for us to bring Him to them.
Give life to Jesus. Live Jesus. Share Jesus. That is our mission in life.