Mary shines forth ...

In Chapter Two of Christus Vivet, Pope Francis speaks first about Jesus's youth and reminds us to realize that Jesus was a young person. "He gave his life when he was, in today's terms, a young adult. He began his public mission in the prime of life..."

I will no doubt go back to Jesus's life, but today I want to continue with what I said yesterday about Mary as the words of Pope Francis continue to call to all of us. He says: "We are always struck by the strength of the young Mary's 'yes', the strength in those words, 'be it done,' that she spoke to the angel. This was no merely passive or resigned acceptance, or a faint 'yes'. as if to say, 'Well, let's give it a try and see what happens.' Mary did not know the words, 'Let's see what happens". She was determined; she knew what was at stake and she said 'yes' without thinking twice. Hers was the 'yes' of someone prepared to be committed, someone willing to take a risk, ready to stake everything she had, with no more security than the certainty of knowing that she was the bearer of a promise."