What’s in a Yes?

Today, the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown celebrate with Sister Mary Ann Coz and Sister Victoria Pascarella 60 years and 75 years of vowed religious life respectively. 60 years and 75 years of saying yes.

Have you ever wondered what’s in a yes?  Sometimes, yes simply means, “I agree.” Sometimes it is a vote in favor of something. Sometimes, it is used as a distraction -” Yes, yes, yes, I hear you.”  Sometimes it speaks something as serious as a life commitment: yes, I will marry you; yes, I will adopt this child; yes I will commitment my life to God’s people as a nun, brother or priest. But whoever uttered a yes that changed not only that person’s life but the course of history? Who ever uttered a yes and became the mother of God? What a yes!

Mary’s yes was indicative of her faithful cooperation with God’s plan both before and after the birth of Jesus.  Mary’s yes to Gabriel is indicative of how Mary must have lived her daily life -being in tune with God’s word in her life.

Our feast today challenges us to say yes to whatever challenging word God sends our way.  Mary participated in God’s plan of salvation by giving birth to the Son of God .  We ,too, are called to bear Christ  in the world today. And we are called to speak an ongoing yes to God. And , like Mary, we will participate in God’s plan of salvation.

Will we recognize God’s announcement to us? And will we continue to say yes to God?