ድንግል ንወድሳ

2 ነሓሰ 2019 · 2027-08-08

Saint Paul announces that when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, so that humanity might be redeemed and receive adoption as God’s children. This reading reveals the important place of the Blessed Virgin Mary in salvation history. God freely chose her to become the Mother of His incarnate Son. Through the humanity Christ received from Mary, He entered our condition, redeemed us from slavery, and opened the way for us to call God: “Abba, Father.” True praise of Mary must therefore lead us toward Jesus Christ. We honour her because of what God accomplished in her and because she always directs the Church toward her Son. Saint Peter teaches that faith may be tested through suffering, just as gold is purified by fire. Trials can produce a faith more precious than gold when believers remain faithful to Christ. The prophets searched and prayed concerning the salvation that has now been revealed through Jesus. Mary also lived by this persevering faith. She did not understand every detail of God’s plan in advance, but she trusted His word and remained faithful through uncertainty, suffering, the Cross, and the waiting that followed. In Acts, after the Ascension of Jesus, the apostles return to Jerusalem and remain united in prayer. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is present among them. She does not separate herself from the apostolic community; she prays with the Church while everyone waits for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Mary is therefore shown as a woman of communion, prayer, patience, and hope. She gathers with the disciples and supports the beginning of the Church’s mission through her faithful presence. In the Gospel, some people demand an extraordinary sign from Jesus. He points them toward the sign of Jonah, anticipating His death, burial, and Resurrection. The greatest sign is not a display designed to satisfy curiosity; it is Christ’s Paschal mystery. When Jesus is told that His mother and relatives are outside, He teaches that whoever does the will of His heavenly Father belongs to His family. These words do not dishonour Mary. They reveal the deepest reason for her greatness: she heard God’s word, believed it, and obeyed His will. To praise the Virgin truthfully means imitating her faith. Christians are called to receive Christ, remain united in prayer, persevere through trials, obey the Father’s will, and live as His adopted children. Mary’s glory always points beyond herself to the merciful God who sent His Son for our salvation.