JOYFUL SURRENDER OF MARY

The joyful surrender of Mary -

“Behold I stand at your door and knock if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and dine with you and you with me says the Lord.”

Dear sisters, let us open the door of our heart and welcome Jesus in our midst as we chant  a   Bhajan.

 

Introduction

At the eve of this beautiful day we are gathered here to celebrate the joyful surrender of Mary our mother. Her total “yes” brought forth the Redeemer to the world. She emptied herself totally and thus created an empty space and silent zone for God in her life. Because of her yes a mystery of incarnation becomes a reality. She is the hearer and doer of God’ word. Today we recall her joyful surrender in the different stages of her life as we unfold the different layers of a coconut.

Coconut.

Here we come with a coconut. It is green, smooth, fresh, defectless   and pleasing to the eyes. But to fine the real essence of it, we have to open it layer by layer and go deeper and deeper… In the same way Mary the little girl of Nazareth also in her prime age was like this coconut, unique, innocent, gentle, bubbling with life and heart full of song and joy. God plucked this beautiful fruit and placed it in His palm and gently asked her “will you be the mother of my son?” At the annunciation Mary was deep confusion and anxiety. How would the society accept her….  What would be Joseph’s reaction… but her “fiat” can be understood as a courageous positive response. Her future was a carrying out of the consequence of such a calling in response to God.

Hymn     T – 20.

What about my yes to God? How did I live it so far? Have I been responsible for my yes?  If not, what are the various blocks ( As sr. Teresa offers this coconut at the feet of the Lord let us surrender all that hinders us from taking responsibility.

Fiber : 

There began a process of opening…. The top layer is gone along with it…. Its external beauty was lost…. Now it fibrous, rough  and vulnerable… We see at the birth of Jesus Mary too faced many difficulties like traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem in the last stage of her bringing forth her son, no place in the inn, rejection from well to do house holders etc… flight to Egypt, mental anxiety caused by the murder of innocents under Herod….. But she was courageous, mature and physically strong woman with good power of endurance. In spite of all these challenges Mary said “yes’ …

When I look into my life how do I react in my difficult situations like rejection, hardship, lowliness, jealousy and hatred?  Let us be grateful to the Lord for all such occasions because through this process of emptying we grow towards maturity as disciples.  (As. ………………..Offers this fiber, let us surrender all such moments to the Lord.

Coconut with Shell:

This coconut with shell represents another protective layer, which is to be removed. The shell is hard, it has to be broken. This breaking can be tough and painful. Being a poor woman, Mary experiences the hard realities of life. She had no unblemished lamb to complete the ritual, so she offers two turtle doves at the presentation of Jesus in the Temple .How painful it must have been, the prophesy of Simeon and Anna, that is a sword would pierce her heart! It is only a strong, loving and mature woman could accept to have a sword to pierce her heart and go through life with it. And to this Mary said, “YES”

Have I ever suffered for Christ? Have I been able to identify myself with the poor? Do I ever complain of little inconveniences? ( As ……………….. offers this coconut let us offer those moments when we were unwilling to accept suffering and allowing the Lord to break us!)

 

Hymn ( either played or sung )

 

Kornal :

Here is the inner reality of the coconut. It stands naked, but very rich, nourishing and delicious. It is at the disposal of others to be used. In the same way Mary was completely at the disposal of others. Since her Son was inviting all kinds people like the publicans, tax collectors, sinners, and prostitutes- she was also open to all of them. In the wedding at Cana Mary is actively present with Jesus and His disciples. In her solitude for others and  embarrassed bridegroom and his family, she launches Jesus on the road towards manifesting as a new spiritual leader. The answer of Jesus sounded like rejection “ woman what is it for you, my time has not yet come.” Still Mary said yes.

What about my life? Am I available and approachable?   What is my relationship with God and others? Am I sensitive towards others?  ( As Sister …. offers this Kornal let us surrender all those moments when we have failed to make ourselves available for the needs of others.

Coconut water:

           And now the coconut water, the purest, the richest, sweet, uncontaminated, formless and shapeless. This symbolizes total freedom and flexibility. Mary’s freedom flexibility and availability is clearly shown at the moment of the supreme sacrifice of Jesus. She stood at the foot of the cross not as a woman who is lost and crushed with suffering but as a woman of strength of character and perseverance, supporting her Son at the crucial moment of suffering. She had the courage to face the shame and injury and Mary said, “YES.”   In order to be perfect disciple one has to loose one’s identity and become one with God. For this we need to allow ourselves to be melted and moulded by God. To let this happen we have to be like this coconut water formless, free of all contamination and available.

(  As Sr. … offers this coconut water let us make a deep bow surrendering ourselves and allowing God to take possession of us.

Hymn       Have Thine   own way Lord…

Concluding prayer

Almighty Father we praise and thank you that in Jesus you have provided us with a perfect model of the attitude of joyful surrender and acceptance like Mary our Mother. Give us the grace to surrender our life entirely into your hands and accept what ever happens in our day today life.  We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.