Patronal Festival of S. Mary the Virgin, Bickleigh: Sermon Notes
Text: Luke 1:39-56
There once was a workman on a scaffolding high above the nave of a cathedral who looked down and saw a woman praying before a statue of Mary. As a joke, the workman whispered, “Woman, this is Jesus.” The woman ignored him. The workman whispered again, more loudly: “Woman, this is Jesus.” Again, the woman ignored him. Finally, he said aloud, “Woman, don’t you hear me? This is Jesus.” At this point the woman looked up at the crucifix and said, “Be still now, Jesus, I’m talking to your mother.”
- The intercessory role of the Blessed Virgin
- Praying alongside, never TO
- Praying with the Angels and Saints, Prophets and Patriarchs (Revelation 5)
- Our Lady is to be honoured, but not worshipped for her role as the First Apostle
- First witness to Christ (‘she pondered these things in her heart’)
- “Do what he tells you” – Wedding at Cana
- A model of faith, a model of prayer – at the foot of the Cross
- A witness to the Resurection and the Day of Pentecost
- See 1 Corinthians 15 – Christ is the New Adam, Our Lady is the New Eve
- Importance of the Theotokos and the Incarnation to our faith.
- Without Mary there would be no Incarnation
- With her “Yes” the work of Salvation cannot have begun
- Without the Incarnation, the Cross would be a sham
- …and the Resurrection pointless
- The importance of prayer (any prayer but alongside Our Lady) to ensure we become a praying community, a living rosary, a well of deep faith.
