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Discover what we can do to help move God’s world

March 25, 2022

Isaiah 7:10-14 | Psalm 45 | or Psalm 40:5-10 | or Canticle 15 (or 3) | Hebrews 10:4-10 | Luke 1:26-38

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

To me, it seems impossible to imagine what the Blessed Mary must have thought when the Angel Gabriel appeared…how one could possibly reply to the message the angel bore. Did she feel trepidation—how could she, a young unmarried woman, give birth to a child—let alone to The Christ Child? How could this be, she may have wondered. Did she sense fear…how would she possibly explain this to her family and community and what would happen if and when she made this known? Could she have hoped that this was just a weird dream?

I’m quite sure I would have had all the above doubts and concerns, yet the Bible assures us that Mary readily accepted the angel’s message. In fact, this young woman proclaimed the greatness of the Lord as she graciously accepted the miracle. Her willingness to respond to God’s word provides inspiration to listen and act upon His plan for each of us.

Mary’s immediate, loving response teaches us to listen carefully and discover what we can do to help move God’s world to a community of peace, generosity and acceptance of one another. Mary was asked to change all her expectations of what life might hold for her, and she did it willingly and lovingly. Her actions provide a brave example of how we might behave when called upon to do something that could cause us inconvenience, discomfort or isolation but would make a difference for someone else.

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord make Me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness joy.
O Divine master grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand.
To be loved, as to love
For it’s in giving that we receive
And it’s in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it’s in dying that we are born to eternal life

Nora Hall