Dear Fatifhul, 2 weeks ago, we talked about the mysteries of the Blessed Virgin Mary concerning the Incarnation. The most important one was the Mother of God. She was chosen in eternity to be the Mother by whom God the Son would be born into the world, and other mysteries consequently follow from this mystery (Mother of God) : Immculate Conception, Fullness of Grace, Perpetual Virginiry.
Today's sermon is the continuation : Our Lady as the Co-Redemptrix in the work of Redemption.
2. Mysteries of Our Lady concerning the Redmption : Co-Redemptirx
1) Initiation of Her co-operation in Redemption
Those who came here for mass during July and August, they may remember this. We talked about the way by which the Sacrifice on the Cross worked our salvation. We talked about the plan of God in Creation. Adam was created with the life of God in himself & was given a great mission with regard to this: to beget a child who has the life of God in himself and establish the society of children of God, and eventually to realize the Kingdom of God on earth. But he failed by his sin, the mankind became the enemy of God, and it had to embrace the fate of the eternal damnation.
The work of Redemption is the solution to this miseries and the accomplishment of the mission of Adam.
First, it brought the restoration of the mankind from its fallen state. Through the Sacrifice on the Cross, Our Lord re-obtained the life of God to the mankind, offered the attonement to God, and redeemed men from the slavery to Satan.
But Our Lord alone didn't work out this Redemption. There was intimate co-operation of Our Lady, not only in the preparation (of redemption), but also in the process of accomplishing it.
- She was the first woman who not only accomplished the failed mission (of first parents), but also did it in the greatest degree. Because She not only begot a child with a divine life, but God Himself.
- She closely helped Our Lord, throughout Her whole life as well, for the salvation of mankind.
2) Our Lady's whole life as Co-Redemptrix
(1) the Annunciation - Her 'fiat'
Let us look at the Annunciation.
- The Incarnation of Our Lord was the very beginning step in the plan of Salvation of mankind. If Our Lady didn't say Her 'fiat' to this plan of God, there was no Incarnation, there would be no Sacrifice on the Cross. Whole plan of salvation would be frustrated. The redemption of whole mankind depended upon "Be it done unto me, according to Thy word."
- Besides, in this 'fiat', not only was there the consent to the Incarnation of God the Son. It contained everhtyhing which the Incarnation has as its goal and mission.Incarnation has the slavation of mankind as its purpose. The reason why mankind need to be saved is its fallen state due to sin. In order to obtain all the graces which enables to get out of this miserable state, there should precede the corresponding labors, works, and merits.In Her 'fiat', there was included Her will and commitment to embrace all these things which She had to go through (for the salvation of mankind). That is to say, She 'begot' the mission of Redemption and all the sufferings which it involves, and also 'begot' all the souls who will be re-born to the new life of God.
(2) Her whole life - continual co-operation in the works of Redemption
Her begetting the Son of God wasn't mere a word of consent. Whole salvation was hanging on it, and She willingly embraced it out of love for God and all the souls.
But Her role as co-redemptrix doesn't end here, but rather it starts from here. She offered Her will conformed to God's will as sacrifice, and led Her life of never-ceasing obedience to God. Furthermore, She participated in the sufferings and passion of Our Lord: by the way of 'Compassion'.
Among these, the Church particularly enumerates 7 by the title of 'Seven Sorrows of Blessed Virgin Mary'.
1. Prophecy of Simeon at the Presentation (Lk 2:34~35)
2. Flight into Egypt
3. Loss of Child Jesus in the temple
4. Meeting of Our Lord on the way of the Cross
5. Crucifixtion
6. Embracing His dead body into Her arms
7. Burial of Our Lord
(3) Sacrifice on the Cross – Climax of Her co-operation in Redemption
Her co-operation in Redemption reached its climax at the moment of the Sacrifice of Our Lord on the Cross.
As He suffered the greatest agony and sufferings in order to give His life to the world, corresponding to this, Our Lady had to suffer as well. Her sufferings may not be so noticeable since they're not external, but Her soul was full of sorrows during the hours on Calvary.
Through the sufferings and sorrows of Them, the beginning of the new mankind is coming: the mankind which would be renewed in the life of grace of God.
Our Lord says to Her : "Woman, behold thy son." (Jn 19:26)
She becomes our Mother : "Behold thy Mother." (Jn 19:27)
Thereby Our Lady fulfilled Her mission as New Eve. She accomplished the mission of co-operation in the Redemption. She became the first Mother of the spiritual generation of Our Lord: When begetting a child, mother doesn't beget only the head (of her child), but the members of the child as well. The Blessed Virgin Mary begot 'Totus Christus(the Whole Christ)' and became the Mother of the Mystical Body of Christ, the Mother of the Catholic Church.
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My dear faithful, in today's sermon we talked about the role and life of Our Lady as Co-redemptrix.
1) She fulfilled the failed mission of our first parents by begetting the Son of God into the world.
2) She lived Her whole life as the co-operator of Our Lord, the Co-redemptrix, the New Eve.
- At the Annunciation, She embraced not only Jesus but His mission of Redemption and everything which it involves.
- Ceaseless sacrifice of Her will, Her obedience, continual offering of all her sufferings and sorrows to God, throughout Her whole life
- She became the first Mother of the new mankind by accomplishing Her mission of Co-redemptrix under the Cross at Calvary.
Although it is fitting that Her great works and life should be known well and be honored by many people, it is not the case, partly due to Her life of humilty, partly due to our indifference to Her.
Let us offer our sincere gratitude and love to Her which spring from our understanding of Her life as Co-redemptrix.
She had to pay the tremendous amount of sorrows for our salvation, and She spiritually begot each one of us. As Her filial child, as another co-redeemer in the world, let us not be idle in our efforts for salvation of souls. Ever consoling Her sorrowful heart which still suffers greatly, let us offer our lifeinto Her hands, fulfilling what She want us to do in each moment.
"(Our Lord) He saith to the disciple, 'Behold thy Mother.'
And from that hour, the disciple took Her to his own." (Jn 19:27)
