MARY’S “YES.”
Isaiah 7:10–14; Psalm 24; Luke 1:26-38
Nine months before Jesus was born, the angel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary to announce the conception of the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary said “yes” to God and accepted this assignment, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading.
Mary’s “yes” was a significant turning point in world history. We always want to say “yes” to marriage or business proposals, but we often withdraw from divine proposals. Let’s thank Mary for her unwavering “yes” today and ask her to assist us in saying our “yes” to God.
Again, how often do we readily say ‘Yes’ to God’s will? Christianity is not about our will but about the will of God. Mary said, “Let it be done to me according to Your will.” At Gethsemane, Jesus said, “Not my will, but Your will be done” (Luke 22:42). In the Lord’s prayer, Matthew 6:10, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Every Christian should seek God’s will and be an expression of such will on earth.
Lastly, the angel described Mary as one who is ‘full of grace’; beloved, if you think that grace is necessary today, ask for her for intercession. Without grace, we may say ‘Yes’ to God but not fulfill his assignment.
Let us pray.
O God, eternal majesty, whose ineffable Word the immaculate Virgin received through the message of an angel and so became the dwelling place of divinity, filled with the light of the Holy Spirit, grant, we pray, that by her example we may in humility hold fast to your will. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen!
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
