Here I Am, Lord

The Annuciation, usually celebrated on March 25th but pre-empted this year because it fell on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, commemorates the moment "the Word became Flesh and dwelt amongst us" (Angelus). It is a moment when two wills, the Divine Will of God and Mary's united to begin the nine month gestation of the Son of God. It was a breathless moment, when perhaps even the angels hovered in a circle of expectation awaiting Mary's response. Her, "Behold, I am the hadnmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." (Lk 1:36) echoes Psalm 40: 8-9: "Here I am...To do your will is my delight." This verse is applied to Jesus in the Letter to the Hebrews (10: 5-7) and reminds us that both Mary and Jesus bent their wills to comply with the Will of the Father. They gave us MUCH of themselves--Jesus, his very life--so that their offering might bring LIFE to us!
We wrestle with ourselves, with and especially with others who are in charge, when OUR will is not done. We think we have the perfect solution, the best way of doing things, the right way, and poof, we are not only ignored, but not even thanked for our suggestions. It is in situations such as these that we taste a bit what Mary and Jesus experienced in turning their wills over to God: they paid the price of emptying their selves. But oh, the rich benefits that filled the void.
If we could learn to trust more in the Will of God by meditating on today's Solmenity, we will have taken a significant step in our Lenten process of renewal and preparation for the re-commitment to our baptismal promises.
Bro. Rene