Handmaiden of the Lord

Gospel: Lk 1:26-38
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122024.cfm

In Mary’s encounter with Gabriel, you can see how she goes through a wide range of emotions. At first she is scared, then she is confused, and then she is humbly resolved. When we encounter crucible moments in our life, we tend to react in a similar way. It’s normally not all experienced at once but is spread out overtime.

The beauty of Mary is how quickly she doesn’t just accept her fate but is open for whatever it entails. That’s very difficult for us to do. Even when we have amazing things happen to us, there will always be something that will change and be different. We may not know it at the time, but any change or transformation has unexpected and unanticipated ripples. It’s for this reason that most of us avoid change. It comes with uncertainty. There’s always

How amazing would it be if we could accept our destiny as Mary does at the end of this scripture! She says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." This is a willing participant in the will of God. She accepts what it will mean and she is an active agent in it.

May we grow this Christmas to accept the will of God for us which will be far greater than anything we could desire or image for ourselves. Like Mary, may we help bring about God’s kingdom. Amen.