By Most Rev Prakash Mallavarapu,
Archbishop of Vizag
In the first encyclical in the pontificate of our Pope Francis, “Lumen Fidei,” Light of Faith, one of the themes that runs through is about faith as light that illumines the path of life of the believer. In the Word spoken by God the hearer sees the truth that is revealed.
Also read: Listen to What God is Speaking and Respond
This hearing leads one to see the truth and moves forward to accept and follow the truth involves faith. It is faith as seeming and it is linked with the Word spoken by God. Once the believer sees and understands the truth there will be a response in obedience to that truth: “faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ” (Rom 10: 17).
The psalmist’s exclamation about the Word should be recalled here, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path” (Ps 119: 105). For our Blessed Mother Mary too, the Word spoken to her was providing “light for her path:”
Word spoken through Archangel Gabriel, words spoken through the shepherds on the night of the first Christmas in Bethlehem, words spoken through Simeon the prophet when the Child Jesus was presented in the Temple, words spoken for the first time by child at twelve years of age, “how is that you sought me? Do you not know that I must in Father’s house?” ( Lk 2: 49). Word of God dwelling in us and Word of God in front of us keeps illumining our path of life on day to day basis.
Here, in two ways Our Blessed Mother is source of inspiration and is a model to imitate:
1) We must pay attention to what God Speaks through the Word in the Scriptures and through other people, and through life events;
2) Contemplate within our heart what is spoken or shown to us by God at different times and on different occasions. In the process, our faith is enlightened and our faith is strengthened, and our faith keeps guiding each step that we take on the journey of life.
Our Blessed Mother had to understand when Jesus here was seen as one who is out of mind or possessed by devil; She had to understand the condemnation of her innocent son to the death on the cross, condemned to die as if he was a criminal! Faith in the one who we should say could alone called her, make her see and accept!
Can the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary renew our understanding of our life here on earth as a pilgrimage towards our final destiny, “resurrection of the body and life everlasting? It is a journey of faith?
Word of God seed falls in good soil and bearing fruit
In yet another way we can reflect and pray in the company of Our Blessed Mother. The parable of the sower and the seed Our Lord Jesus spoke is about the Word of the kingdom and its varied fruitfulness or lack of it in the lives of different recipients. While explaining the parable, He said, “the seed sown in good soil is about the one who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundred fold, in another sixty, and in another thirty” (Mt 13: 23).
In the case of Our Blessed Mother, the Word was received with faith and has borne fruit in her. She was blessed and she considered her life blessed: “My soul magnifies the Lord! … For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is his name” (Lk 1: 46-49). Here, there is the Word of God spoken, Virgin Mary listing and receiving the Word in faith, and the descent of the Holy Spirit, the power of the Most High. In her acceptance, Our Blessed Mother followed the Will of God and Plan of God. She lived the rest of her life in total obedience and surrender.
Here we should see how the word received in faith bears fruit: Assumption of Our Blessed Mother into heaven reminds us of her sharing fully in the fruits of Salvation in Christ. For us Christian believers the call is, like Our Blessed Mother, to “hear the Word of God,” receive it in faith, and bear fruit: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide” (Jn 15: 16).Through faith we should get involved and with the help of the gifts of the Holy Spirit live according to the Plan and Will of God revealed in the word of God, and then bear fruit.
St. John Maria Vianney, Patron of Pastoral Clergy
“Now faith is the appearance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval.” (Heb.11: 1-2). With these words in the Letter to the Hebrews are given a long list of “men of old,” starting with Abel, Enoch and Noah, as examples of men and women of faith. We know how so many times Abraham is mentioned in the Scriptures as a man of faith as example to imitate.
Now, for us in the Catholic Church there are innumerable saints as inspiring and shining examples for our life of deep faith, self-sacrificing spirit, and dedication and commitment to the entrusted mission but always guided by love for God and love for the Church. Saint John Maria Vianney will remain an outstanding example, his personal piety and holiness, and a zealous pastor of the flock entrusted to him in Ars. This zealous priest for the spiritual well being of the faithful was ever available for his people. It is told that he was in the confessional more than ten hours a day. For a priest in the pastoral ministry today, Saint John Maria Vianney will not only be an inspiration but also a challenge: his holy life, his love for the Church, and his availability for the spiritual well being of faithful. We can learn as to how a priest can be a mediator in the place of Jesus Christ to reconcile people with God through the sacramental life of the Church. St. John Maria Vianney’s life is like “the good soil in which the Word, the seed, fell and yielded a hundredfold harvest! Faith was at work in him!
“For though I am not with you in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you are taught, abounding in thanksgiving” ( Col 2: 5-7).