Every time I read Mary's response to the angel's request, her deeply trusting response amazes me. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word”. Here is a young girl, probably only fourteen years old, with no status from an insignificant place called Nazareth. She will face misunderstanding and rejection from her family, her betrothed, and her neighbors, yet she responds with a resounding YES. 

When I reflect on her answer, I wonder how I have been responding to God’s calls during my lifetime. How will I respond to God’s calls in the years to come?  I know there have been times in my life when I didn’t see or understand what God was doing.  It helps to hear Luke tells us that Mary was troubled by the angel’s news, just as we may be troubled by what God might be asking of us. Yet Mary worked through her feelings. She was able to do this because of her unfailing trust in God and relationship with Him.  

What does that teach each of us? When God asks for our response, can we let him know that we may not completely understand his request, but we know He is always good? Can we lean into what we know to be true of God and trust Him, even though we are not sure what He is up to? Reciting the simple prayer, ‘Come Holy Spirit’ can remind us that God will, like He did for Mary, give us the inner strength to answer his request with our own fiat. “May it be done to me according to your word.”

Judith Phaneuf is a retired social worker and now pursues her passion for volunteering. She volunteers in order to give back to her community and church. Community volunteer interests include anything to do with books and reading. Her favorite volunteer place is church - especially in the area of liturgy.