Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Lk 1:38).
How many times have we read or heard these verses? Maybe this could actually be your first time. Either way, whether it is your first or thousandth time, the more important question is how many times have you said to God, “May it be done to me according to your word”? How would that be for a prayer to begin each day with and then at the end of the day reflect on how well you have heard and answered yes to God’s will?
Mary’s yes changed the course of human history. Her willingness to bear the Son of God who dwelt among us in our humanity, in our wounded condition, was for the purpose to heal us, and to lead us home to communion with his Father. Jesus is the gift that keeps giving – through our yes. Each time we say yes to Jesus, so that we become less, as he becomes more, the kingdom of God continues and spreads.
Along with Mary our yes that we make is not to be a one time yes, but we are to make a daily, moment by moment yes. As St Paul wrote to the Church of Thessalonica. We are to: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 16-17). We are able to rejoice always and pray without ceasing when we say yes to God. This does not mean that we rejoice in our pain, suffering, and struggles, but we rejoice in the hope, trust, and experiences that Jesus is present with us in and through our suffering. He does not abandon us to random fate. He is our source, our refuge, and our strength.
Our prayers of petition for ourselves and intercessions for others are another yes to his will, because they are an “admission of one’s own helplessness” (Lohfink, 240). Prayer is a no to pride. There is no such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto, so they went to by two, as Jesus sent his disciples, but I digress. Prayer is a yes to our acknowledgement that we need Jesus to guide and help us. May we continue to rejoice this week as we draw ever closer to celebrating the birth of Jesus who is Emmanuel, God with us, made possible by the handmaid of the Lord. Say yes to Jesus and rejoice!
Photo: Graduation from the St Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary 2013
Link for today’s Mass readings for Wednesday, December 20, 2017:
Spiritual Stepping Stones 