March 25th, Wednesday, Fourth Week of Lent

Isaiah 7: 10-14; 8: 10, Psalm 40: 7-8a, 8b-9, 10, 11, Hebrews 10: 4-10, Luke 1: 26-38

“I say ‘yes’ my Lord…. In all the good times, through all the bad times, I say ‘yes’ my Lord to every word you speak.”

Mary shows us, in today’s Gospel, what we are all called to be – to make God visible by the way we live. St. Francis of Assisi once said that we are the only gospel many people will ever read. It is equally true that we may be the only image of God some people will ever know. How awesome to think that God trusts me to help carry out his plan in making him alive in the lives of others!

Mary had complete freedom to accept or to refuse God’s call. I’m sure she, too, was frightened and felt herself unworthy or incapable of carrying out His plan. Although frightened, she said “yes”, not knowing what the future would hold. She freely agreed to God’s invitation.

God has a plan for each of us, too. For us, as with Mary, that plan depends on us saying “yes”. His invitation is given with the same freedom to accept or to refuse. Without our “yes” Christ cannot become part of our lives and, perhaps, the lives of others. With confidence, we must remember what the angel told Mary, as he tells us, – The Holy Spirit will come upon us and the power of the Most High will overshadow us.

How do I reflect the image of God by the way I live? How open am I to this invitation?

Lord, teach me to be humble, and with the psalmist respond “I come to do your will”.

Joan Dowling, wife, mother, retired educator