Doing God's Will

 Luke 1: 26-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

We celebrate this Solemnity of the Annunciation  of the Lord, so dear to Christians, and particularly, the Marist Brothers, with joy and gratitude for by her willingness to accept God's plan for us, Mary opened the door to the presence of the God-man, her Son, Jesus, among us and our salvation. Even with Gabriel's explanation, Mary might not have fully understood what was being asked of her, but she surely took a leap of faith and put herself totally at God's disposal. And what a difference that has made for us!

We may not be asked to make such a dramatic choice, but there are choices we face that demand faith and trust; Mary shows us the way. May we accept the grace of the Annunciation in our lives and always be at the full disposal of God's plan. Mary learned that it was better than any plan she might have had, and we will discover that too.

Bro. Rene

 
Almighty and ever living God, Mary found favor with you, and you chose her to bear your saving promise. She questioned “how?” and was told nothing is impossible for the power of the Most High. When we are troubled and question amid our doubts or fears, may your grace abound, stirring the hope that moves us, too, to declare “Thy will be done.” We ask this through Jesus, your Word made flesh, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.

Rev. Bill Dorwart, C.S.C.