Virgin Call

Today’s Gospel Text: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 And Mary said to the angel, "How shall this be, since I have no husband?" 35 And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.  36 And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing will be impossible." 38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:26-38

Reflection: The great Indian tradition always uses a fresh coconut for inaugural ceremonies or as an offering to their many gods.

The hard shell, the untouched kernel and the water all signifies purity and virginity.

The Jewish sacrifice needed to have a lamb without scar or blemish, likewise anyone found with any leprous type scar was considered unclean and had to remain out the walls.

In Christ Jesus, God no longer distinguishes or discriminates  since Christ our lamb has paid for such blemishes of sin. We need only to come to God through his Son Jesus. Jesus paid in full, as the lamb of God without any blemish of sin.  

He became a pleasing sacrifice to God, because he offered himself on the altar of the cross of pain and suffering in complete obedience to God.

Hence, broadly speaking, there are two types of virgins, those who offer their every desire as a living sacrifice to God and those who may have fallen and now want to turn their lives over to God in a new way; singleness of heart. 

A virgin signifies the concept of holiness; set aside for God's service and hence celibacy is intrinsically connected to the call of holiness. 

The word ‘holy’ means to be set aside completely for God. It means a singleness of heart and purpose.

Therefore, virgins by not attaching themselves to the other communicates this singleness of heart, mind and purpose in the external form too besides striving in the internal realm to present one’s body as a living sacrifice to God; as a pleasing offering by seeking to accomplish the good, pleasant and pleasing will of God. (cfr.Rom. 12: 1-2)

Prayer: Lord, if it be thy will, help me to live out my life in complete surrender and total holiness, seeking always to do thy will.

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