God made it clear to the people of Israel from the beginning that their focus should be not on their own actions, but rather on what God promises to do in them and for them. In the Second Book of Samuel, God gives King David hope: I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. Salvation will not come through David’s efforts, but through God’s – David has but to open to God’s work in him. Christians read this passage as a promise fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of God, a promise extended to all people. Psalm 89 extols this promise: through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. We are fully aware of the enormity of the covenant sworn to David and, we now know, fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.
Unlike David, who is concerned about what he himself can do, Mary does not question the activity of God: I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word, she tells the angel Gabriel in Luke's Gospel. Unlike David, Mary is not focused on herself, but rather on what God is doing in her, and she surrenders herself to God’s work in her. We don’t know what Mary’s plan was for that day, but it probably did not involve meeting with an angel; Gabriel is an interruption into the quiet life of Mary. And yet, when all that is left her is to accept or reject the angel’s statement, Mary says Yes, Fiat, let it be done to me according to your word. She never questions whether God will be with her; that is a given. Hers is the obedience of faith of which Paul speaks to the Romans. We cannot manufacture faith, for it is God’s gift, God working in us, God’s strength within us. We can only accept God’s work in us by owning it, participating it, actively choosing to accept the gift, and to accept Jesus Christ, revealed as the perfect love of the Father.
Salvation come from our saying yes to God: let it be done to us according to your word. What if every day were focused on what God was doing in us rather than on ourselves? If we were, every day would be an adventure! Mary surrenders herself to God’s work; for us, such surrender is much more difficult. But when God leads us in a direction different from the one we have foreseen, we need to be open to the interruption, open to God’s will, and present to whatever God brings us in the moment. Then the Lord will be with us as well!
This post is based on Fr. Pat’s Scripture class.
Image source: www.wordclouds.com
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