Blessed for Believing

Grace

“Blessed are you who believe that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” Luke 1:45

We start the year celebrating the Solemnity of Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Let us look to our Mother and be inspired with her faith. A fundamental aspect of our life in God is faith. Faith is believing in God and in the message of salvation in Jesus. 

For Mary, she believed what God told her through the angel Gabriel. Her faith stands in contrast to the disbelief of Zechariah. Both of them had been told of conception that was humanly impossible on the part of Zechariah, Elizabeth was barren and advanced in years, while Mary, she had no relations with a man. Zechariah questioned Gabriel in disbelief. Mary questioned him also, but in faith. Zechariah was punished, made speechless and un able to talk (Lk 1:20) while Mary was proclaimed blessed. 

We are blessed when we believe.

1. We are blessed with salvation, for “everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:16

2. We are blessed with righteousness, for “the righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” Rom 3:22

3. We are blessed with justification, for God justifies “the one who has faith in Jesus.” Rom3:26

4. We are blessed by the living word of God, as we receive “not human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.” 1 Thes 2:13

5. We are blessed with experiencing the power of God, “the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might.” Eph 1:19

6. We are blessed with the privilege of suffering with Christ, as to us “has been granted, for the sake of Christ, not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him” Phil 1:29 

She (Mary) who believed gave birth to the Savior. And she who believed was present at the birth of the Church. And she who believes continues to intercede for us, as we make our way to heaven.