00:00How are you?
00:21It's great that you've joined us for our course, which we're almost finished with.
00:25However, in our understanding of Jesus, the figure of the Blessed Virgin Mary is obviously essential.
00:32which is the model of what the abundant life brought by Christ truly means and implies.
00:39That is why I would like us to reflect today on this wonderful woman, a model of faith and a model of the Christian, Mary of Nazareth.
00:48The story of the angel's announcement to Mary is something we should meditate on deeply.
00:57In this scene, Mary's faith stands out above all.
00:59Although the announcement makes perfect sense to us, given Maria's age and her status as a woman,
01:07She could hardly understand clearly what the angel was telling her.
01:13However, she is a woman of faith.
01:15He believes the angel as sent by God and bravely responds to the proposal by saying, "Let it be done as you say."
01:24By doing so, he not only shows his faith, but also his commitment to the Lord.
01:30Having faith always implies a commitment that involves us in God's plan.
01:37Faith is the first gift that God gives us, which, as Saint Paul says, is born from preaching.
01:45Now, after these days of reflection, we will notice that our faith has grown.
01:50But now it has to be like Mary's, a faith that is committed, that puts her whole life at stake.
01:58Let's remember that Mary risked everything, because if Joseph had denounced her, she would have been stoned, because that was the law.
02:08That is truly having faith, for the apostle James says that faith without works is dead.
02:15Maria does not doubt, she believes and commits herself to God.
02:18After this course, could you say that you have faith?
02:24Do you really believe in God now?
02:27If Jesus tells us that we can heal the sick and do miraculous things, do you believe this?
02:34Or would you say, "What signal do you give me to be sure?"
02:38True faith has two elements that characterize it.
02:44On one hand, the need to share the news that has filled their hearts and transformed their lives.
02:51And on the other hand, a joy in serving others, as we see the Blessed Virgin Mary do.
02:58These are the two characteristics that should always define a Christian.
03:03Faith, like Mary's, will always lead us to infinite trust in God.
03:10Mary, by accepting God's plan with faith, was exposed to everything, even death.
03:15But she knows God, the God who feeds the birds and clothes the plants, and so she abandons herself into his loving hands.
03:26He knows that no one who has trusted in God has ever been abandoned by Him.
03:32Thus, Mary is the woman of prayer, of faith, of intimate and personal contact with God.
03:39She is the woman who has meditated on the Holy Scriptures, and thus has seen the feats and wonders that God has done with his people.
03:48She is the woman who knows how to follow God in moments of joy, like in Bethlehem.
03:53But he also knows how to surrender to God in difficult times, like on Calvary.
03:58She is the woman who expects everything, but who gives everything to God.
04:02She is the woman who goes out of her way to serve others, as we see in her visit to her cousin Saint Elizabeth,
04:10or at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, when they saw that the wine had run out, and not wanting the bridegroom to be put off,
04:17intercedes with his son to get them out of trouble.
04:20Yes, brother.
04:22Mary, the Blessed Virgin Mary, is great before God and great before men,
04:28because he has been faithful to God at all times, and has always known how to love God.
04:34That is why God has honored her, and has left us the instruction to do so.
04:40Luke chapter 1, verse 48, invites us to honor her.
04:45She must be the model of faithfulness to God, of obedience, of listening to the word,
04:51and commitment to God and the Gospel, a model of freedom, and commitment to others.
05:00As always, I invite you to expand this knowledge in our evangelization course.
05:06at www.evangelizacion.mx.
05:09Well, we're reaching the end of our course,
05:13But before I finish, I want to share with you one of the most beautiful and useful gifts that Jesus left us,
05:22the intercession of Mary Most Holy.
05:25I'll see you tomorrow to talk about her.
05:28See you tomorrow.
05:29Thank you.
05:30Thank you.
