- Lectio Divina 121 – Reading [Luke 1:26-38]
READING : In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end. How will this be, Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, the Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her [Luke 1:26-38].
REFLECTION: Mary was likely a young woman with her own hopes and dreams for the future. But God had chosen her for a special purpose – to be the mother of the Messiah. This was a profound calling that would upend her life and plans. Yet, Mary responded with remarkable faith, saying “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”
Mary’s example challenges us to have the same openness and submission to God’s will, even when it requires us to abandon our own plans and dreams. Like Mary, we may be called to take up a cross or sacrifice our own desires for a greater purpose. Are we willing to say “yes” to God, trusting that His plan is better than our own?
Mary’s faith did not mean her path would be easy. The angel’s words about Jesus reigning over the house of Jacob forever likely did not match Mary’s expectations. She must have wondered how this would all unfold. Yet, she chose to believe and entrust herself to God.
In the same way, following God’s call for our lives may involve uncertainty and difficulty. But Mary’s example shows that when we submit our will to God’s, He can do extraordinary things through our lives. May we have the courage to respond like Mary, “let it be with me according to your word.”
PRAYER : Heavenly Father, like Mary, we stand in awe of your
plan for our lives. When you call us to a purpose beyond our own dreams, give us the faith to say, yes and submit our will to yours. May we have the courage to take up our crosses, abandon our plans, and trust in your greater vision. As Mary welcomed the Christ child, help us to welcome your will with open and obedient hearts. Amen.
CONTEMPLATION : Find a quiet, serene spot, a peaceful corner of nature. Closing eyes gently, let go of any thoughts or worries that have been weighing on mind. A wave of peace washes over you, bringing a deep sense of serenity and calm. In this stillness, recall the reflection on Mary’s response to the angel’s announcement. Visualize Mary, a young woman with her own hopes and dreams for the future. Yet, when God intervenes and calls her to a greater purpose, she responds with remarkable faith, saying let it be with me according to your word. Ponder this example: am I, like Mary, willing to submit my own will and plans to God’s higher purpose? Or do I cling tightly to my own desires, afraid to let go and trust in His plan? As you sit in this serene space, feel God’s grace washing over you, like a gentle, cleansing wave. His loving presence envelops you, filling with a profound sense of peace and reassurance. In this moment, remember that when we surrender our will to God, He can do extraordinary things through our life. His plan is greater than anything we could imagine for ourselves.
ACTION : * Do not cling tightly to your own desires and agenda.
Instead, have the courage to abandon your own plans and embrace the greater calling God has placed before you.
