3^rd Sunday of Lent - on the Faith of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Seoul 2026) – Rev. fr. Wailliez

My dear Brethren,

 

  In today’s Gospel, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Jesus, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!” Our Lord replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Lk 11:27-28). These words direct our gaze beyond mere physical maternity to the profound interior reality of faith. No one embodied this blessedness more perfectly than the Virgin Mary, whose entire life was an unbroken act of faith.

 

  From the Annunciation to Calvary, Mary walked in faith amid obscurity and apparent contradictions. She was asked to believe that she would become the Mother of the Messiah while remaining a virgin; that her Child would be the very Son of God, the Saviour of the world. The angel’s message surpassed every expectation of Israel: God Himself would become man, not merely to liberate a nation from earthly oppression, but to redeem humanity from eternal damnation. Mary’s response reveals the heroic character of her faith. She inquired only how she might cooperate—“How can this be, since I know not man?”—and, receiving the explanation, gave her unwavering consent: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). In that instant, the new Eve reversed the unbelief of the first, and the Fathers of the Church rightly contrast her obedience with Eve’s doubt.

 

  Yet this faith was not granted the clarity of vision. It possessed sufficient light for adherence to the divine word and sufficient darkness to render that adherence meritorious. The prophecies remained obscure in many respects; the official interpreters of Israel distorted their meaning. New mysteries brought new shadows. Simeon’s prophecy of a sword piercing her soul astonished her. In the Temple, she did not understand her Son’s words: “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Lk 2:49). Thirty years of hidden life in Nazareth tested a lesser faith: how could the One announced as heir to David’s throne live in such obscurity, fleeing Herod, growing like any other child?

 

  Even when Jesus’ public ministry began with the miracle at Cana—at her gentle intercession, “They have no wine”—Mary believed without having witnessed any prior miracle. She simply stated the need, confident in His power. Multitudes acclaimed Him; opposition mounted; Jerusalem greeted Him with hosannas. Surely the angel’s words were about to be fulfilled: “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever” (Lk 1:33). Then, within days, came the Passion. Arrest, condemnation, the Cross—the apparent total failure of the mission. The throne of David seemed a gibbet of shame; friends fled; the Apostles scattered; even the cry “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” echoed in her heart. Yet Mary’s faith remained unshaken. She believed that He who died would reign forever, that the promises would be accomplished.

 

  Elizabeth had proclaimed, “Blessed is she who has believed, for there will be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Lk 1:45). And indeed, in less than three days, the Resurrection vindicated her trust.

 

  My dear Brethren,

The contemplation of Mary’s faith lifts our own to heroic stature. When our faith grows dim—when the Church appears as if eclipsed, when the world is shuttered by political crises, when personal trials obscure God’s promises—let us turn to her. In moments when Christ seems absent or defeated, when “the world” appears triumphant, recall His words: “Have confidence, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).

 

  May the Blessed Virgin, “blessed for having believed,” give us a share in her faith and obtain for us the grace to imitate her fidelity. Amen.