REFLECTIONS TODAY
Mary is human like all of us. But unlike us, she was completely open to God’s will. God did not impose his will on her. She was asked, and she consented. She was free to say No to God, but she saw herself as a humble maidservant open to obey the Lord’s bidding. She must have taken to heart the words of the psalmist, which would later be said of Jesus:
“‘As is written of me in the scroll, Behold, I come to do your will, O God’ ” (Ps 40:8-9, Heb 10:7). That is why, Mary’s humanity is also our assurance that we too can align our will with God’s. Her participation in the act of God’s will is also our assurance that if we open our hearts to God, we too can enjoy God’s eternal communion. If we only shun our selfish interests, there would be no terrible wars nor domestic strife, no one would be unjustly killed, no one would be deprived of his dignity, and no one would be robbed of his freedom and liberty.
Is it really impossible to achieve a peaceful and just world? God’s Kingdom is never impossible because he is already reigning. We merely need to participate in the initiatives of God’s reign just like what Mary did.
Gospel • Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025.” E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.