Day 26 - Fiat

"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done unto me according to thy word." 

(Luke 1:38)

Mary's exercised the virtue of blind obedience throughout her life. Today, we focus on one moment of perfect obedience. Though we've heard the story before, let us imagine it as if it were the first time and put ourselves in her shoes. 

In Luke 1, we read the story of a young girl (12-15 years old). She stands in her room surprised to see the angel Gabriel before her. The angel explains that she is chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah that her people have been awaiting. She stands in fear and awe. She asks how this could be, after all she is not married and is a virgin. He explains that the power of God will overshadow her and she will conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit. She ponders this for a moment. Her love for God and trust in His plan assure her that "no" would not be an appropriate response. Then, she accepts this plan with a resounding "yes." Her yes is a pledge of obedience. 

She does not understand all that this plan entails. In fact, she has many questions and serious concerns. Girls who are betrothed as she is, and are found to be pregnant, are subject to being stoned or banished by the man to whom they are betrothed. Her obedience to God could mean death, or at the very least grave humiliation. Soon her body would show signs of being with child and people would question her, mock her, and isolate her as an outcast. Few would believe that this child was conceived miraculously. This honor she was given would require deep humility.  

This young girl took God's hand and trusted him with bind obedience. She did not know what would happen. Yet, she would face whatever people thought of her with courage because she trusted that God's plan was for her good. She took a leap of faith. She trusted, acted, and prayed. She prayed for her betrothed, Joseph, that he would also accept God's plan. It would be difficult for him to accept this circumstance that was seemingly impossible. His part in the the plan was so important, but she didn't run and tell him what to do. Instead, she prayed that he would hear the voice of God and have the courage, trust, and obedience to also say "yes." Then, as Joseph struggled with his decision, an angel appeared to him. After this assurance to trust in the plan, he did accept his role in salvation history. 

Imagine if either one of them had said, "no"? The story of our salvation would be altered drastically. We may not even have salvation. Through obedience, Mary and Joseph lived God's plan and became who He created them to be. This kind of obedience does not always come easy. We will not likely be handed a detailed map of our life, there will be unknowns. We may not understand why God asks us to do something or exactly how we are going to get where we are headed. Mary and Joseph remind us that we must first step out in faith, taking the hand of our Father, and then slowly allow the plan to be revealed to us. 

These two holy saints did not obey God out of fear but out of love. St. Basil said, "There are three dispositions of heart with which we can obey: the first is out of fear of punishment; the second is out of desire to reap a reward; the third is out of love." The third, is what we are all working towards in the spiritual life, for it is the perfect way of obedience. God's desire is not that we obey because we are enslaved to fear or because we seek a reward for ourselves. He desires that we know His love and give our lives back to Him out of love. He loved us into being. Out of love, we are called to discern His will for our lives and to obey His plans, because they are good and will bring us to eternal life. God is not a condemning Father who eagerly awaits His children's misbehavior so that He can reprimand them. If he were, then our response to Him would warrant fear. No, God is a loving Father who eagerly awaits the opportunity to enter into a relationship with us and lead us down the pathways of truth, righteousness, and life. It is love that will make our response to God's plan for us look like Mary's. It is through obedience, in love, that we will put an end to our constant search for happiness and find true and lasting joy. 

Today's Challenge: 

Examine your conscience. In what ways have you failed to obey God in love? How have you said "no" to  Him and His plans for you. Plan to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Father wants to wash away your no's and give you the opportunity to take His hand and say yes. 

Today's Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, I desire to follow your plan for my life. Help me to obey. Help me to obey when its easy, when its hard, when I understand, when I don't understand... Help me to obey you because I am so in love with you that I can't imagine saying no. I love you Jesus, more than anything. Amen.