Did you know that God the Father has a "secret name" for all of us! Just as you who are fathers know – each child is unique and special and deserving of its own "secret name!" – a name that just perfectly fits the individual!
God the Father's "secret name" for a humble maiden of Nazareth called Mary was: "full of grace!" Mary always was completely filled with God's love, his grace and his friendship! The lost love, the lost grace and the lost friendship caused by Adam's sin – Original Sin – never touched Mary – because God the Father had a "special task" for Mary – should she accept it – to be the Mother of his Son! [God the Father also has a "special task" for each of us – something to do in life (our "vacation") which can only be done in just the way we do it – should we accept the job! Mary, in this regard, then, was no different from us!]
And so we see one of the most dramatic scenes in all of the Scriptures in the gospel passage today: the angel Gabriel comes to Mary, calls her by her "secret name" "Hail, full of grace!" and delivers a message from God – the proposal of her "special task" – to be the Mother of his Son! And how dramatic it truly was: heaven and earth stood still while Mary thought about it, gathered some more information about how it would happen, and then immediately agreed to do it! YES! I will be the Mother of God's Son! Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word!
And the Holy Spirit overshadowed her – the power of the Most High came upon her and EMMANUEL began to exist in her womb! Her joy became ecstatic – and she later cries out in Elizabeth's presence! MY SOUL PROCLAIMS THE GREATNESS OF THE LORD! MY SPIRIT FINDS JOY IN GOD MY SAVIOR!
Jesus is Mary's Savior, he is our Savior! He has come to restore lost love, lost grace and lost friendship!
May we find that love, that grace and that joy always – as it emanates and radiates from the Holy Scriptures and from the Eucharistic Bread of Friendship Restored!
For ever we will sing the goodness of the Lord.
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