Translate our faith with a Yes

(An excerpt of the homily of the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., during the 1st Day of the Pastoral Visit at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, August 22, 2024.)

Inspired by Mary, what do we see in our faith today? In this first day of our visit. One coming from the scriptures, from the Holy Gospel that we had, we have read the story of the Annunciation, the angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and there she was offered to be the Mother of the Savior, the Savior to be conceived in a womb. And that offer to be the Mother of the Savior was met, was received, was answered by Mary, the young maiden that she said Yes. “I am the Handmaid of the Lord and ready to become the Mother of the Savior.”

My reflection is first thought, first raised this evening in this memory of Jesus is this. With the Yes of Mary, looking at her, keeping our memory of her who said yes to the Lord and that yes meant a very intimate connection with the Lord Jesus because she became the Mother. The challenge for us is to translate our faith in Jesus with a Yes that would connect us to Jesus as close as possible as Mary was the Mother of Jesus.

In our faith, how intimate, unsa ka personal, in our Gospel today in the history of salvation, the memory of Mary she said yes to be the Mother of Jesus. Is our yes today, our belief in Jesus, like almost becoming a mother to Jesus as close not only a disciple but as a brother to Jesus, a sister to Jesus, that is very possible because of the example of the Blessed Mother of Jesus.

But we can continue that at the beginning of the story of the final phase of the salvation, the Annunciation, this queen became the Mother of Jesus. But in the end of the life of Jesus, Mary was also present, in Calvary she was also present, at the foot of the Cross she was present. In the beginning, she was there and she was proclaimed the Mother of the Savior. At the foot of the Cross at the end of the earthly life of Jesus, she was there and she was proclaimed as the Mother of our Savior. It was at the foot of the cross that she was given to us by Jesus not only as His Mother but there Jesus said: “She is also your mother.”

As we live our faith, as we walk, as we journey, she is not only an inspiration to always say yes to the Lord. Joyful, quite glorious, wow! But also the journey of life, mysteries and pierce the threat of death, Mary is also our Mother to be with us. This means, as I’ve said we celebrate the memory of Jesus, it should be a common memory for us, a memory that would tell us also that every time we are with Him in the Eucharist we are fed by His Body and Blood in Communion that will sustain us.

And another memory is every time we have the Eucharist, every living of the mystery of the Calvary, His death and resurrection, we are also reminded to not forget the Mass, the Blessed Virgin Mary is being near the altar. Again assuring us that just as she took care of the Child Jesus in the beginning, she will take care of us, her children because her Son just told her: “They’re now your new children.”