From the responsorial psalm: “‘In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!’” Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:26-38)
When the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, he first tells her not to be afraid. Why? Because she has found favor with God. He goes on to tell her how she will conceive a son and name him Jesus and that of his kingdom there will be no end. Mary questions how this will come to be, and the angel answers her. Mary asks no other questions but simply says yes, trusting in the Lord to accomplish his will through her. Mary’s fiat is an example for every person seeking to do the will of God. Not all of the specifics are given; there is no step-by-step manual. But in seeking to do God’s will, two things are necessary: to be unafraid and to trust that nothing is impossible for him.
God, I see in Mary a high standard, even an impossible one, to live up to. Yet, Mary who is the new Eve, was conceived without original sin and conceived and gave virgin birth to Jesus. Give me the grace through Christ your Son to take one step at a time in hearing and responding to your voice. “May it be done to me according to your word.” As you spoke to Ahaz in the first reading, Lord, you also speak to me. In striving for holiness, help me remember the name Emmanuel, “God is with us.” And “nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!