The Power of "Yes"

We look upon Mary's acquiescence to Gabriel's invitation with admiration, and a sense of challenge. "If she could do it, why can't I?" Yes, this is certainly the ideal, but hesitancy can creep in: the ever-present: "what if?" Too much caution can stifle the Spirit and a "no" from Mary would have had a devastating impact on the world: it would not be as we know it today, as yet imperfect as it is, for behind all the "mess" we have hope, we have Jesus. God's love of paradox constantly plays out from the choosing of an unwed, teenage, country girl to be the Mother of God to invitations in our own lives. Does not compute...in our way of thinking, but in God's, it makes perfect sense. Mary asked one question, and satisfied with Gabriel's answer, complied without hesitation.
How many times does "Gabriel" appear in our lives, carrying an invitation from God to step yet again into the "unknown", or to make it possible for God to work through us in ways we never dreamed of? Standing before the never-before-seen students at Mout Royal Academy in VERY rural Sunapee, New Hampshire...almost in the middle of nowhere, it seemed...I again had this sense that a NO to this invitation would have left both the students and me much less richer than it was with my being there. Another group of young people heard the story of St. Marcellin and his passion to make Jesus known and loved. Some promising relationships were initiated, further contact planned. A NO would have been a mistake. So it has been as I look back...NO's would have deprived me of Pine Ridge and Rwanda, Bishop Donahue High School, or Central Catholic...all unimaginable. YES means trust, risk, and surrender, but it becomes the springboard for God to show his unending and unconditional love which make all things possible.
Say YES!
Bro. Rene