The Blessed Mother is the model disciple for all of us.  Not only was she the first disciple to follow Jesus but she was also the one who raised him, told us to “do whatever he tells you,” and led us by example.  By looking at the life of our Blessed Mother in the scriptures we can learn a lot about what it means to be a disciple; however, on this feast, I want to focus of what she teaches us at this important moment of her life when the Angel Gabriel came and asked her to be the Mother of God.

There are two important lessons we can learn from the Blessed Mother on this feast day.  First, she teaches us to have total trust in God.  Mary was a devout and pious Jew.  She would have followed all the purity laws prescribed to women, she would have known the scriptures and stories passed down through the oral tradition, she would have kept an active prayer life and attended the rituals she was required to be at.  Because of her devout religious life, Mary also had a deep trust in God that he would send the Messiah to save them.  She knew the promise God made to Abraham and she knew God would not go back on that promise.  Because of her deep trust in God, awaiting the Messiah he promised, it made sense to her that God would ask someone to take on this responsibility; but her humility never led her to believe that it would be her.  

The second lesson Mary teaches us in this scene is the importance and necessity of prayer.  Mary was only able to receive the Angel Gabriel because she was in communication with God.  If Mary had not been in communication with God and had not been praying then she would not have been able to receive such this messenger of love and respond with a sincere “yes.”  Mary must have had such an intimate and profound connection and relationship with God to have received his messenger.  Obviously, she was frightened, but then she was able to enter right into a conversation.  More importantly, Mary had a relationship with each person of the Trinity.  

Now, I’m well aware that Mary would not have known anything about the Trinity and probably would be angry at anyone who attempted to explain one God in three persons; however, because her prayer was so profound and intimate she was able to enter a relationship with each person: she prayed to God the Father, seeking his will and the strength to carry that out; she was in relationship with God the Son, whom she bore in her womb and birthed in the stable in Bethlehem; and she was in relationship with the Holy Spirit, whom she had to work with for the conception to take place.  Mary wasn’t aware of her intimate relationship with the Trinity; however, this is how profound her prayer was with the Almighty God.  

Now, as disciples of Jesus, we must look to our Blessed Mother and follow her perfect example.  We must be people of deep prayer and have total trust in God.  All the Saints trusted in God’s love and will for them, especially when they were experiencing desolation in prayer.  Also, as disciples of Jesus, we must be people of deep prayer and intimacy with God; and not just with God the Father or just Jesus, but with the whole Blessed Trinity: we should be praying to God the Father, seeking his will for our lives; we should pray to Jesus seeking his help and brotherhood as we live out of baptismal promises; and we should pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and the spiritual gifts that come from the Spirit.  

No one said discipleship was easy; however, it is possible through the grace of God.  The Sacraments are the foundation and ultimate means of God’s grace but we can also receive his grace through other sacramentals: reading the sacred scripture, praying the rosary, adoring the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament, making pilgrimages (especially to Holy Doors around your own diocese), and other devotionals.  Look to the Blessed Mother, pray for her intercession, and follow her example.  Be disciples of prayer and total trust in God.