December 8

"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But Mary 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...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."

On this feast, I try to remember who Mary was - a simple Jewish peasant girl
with a heart for the mission of her people, preparing for the coming of the
Anointed One. It was never about her or her glory. It was only about God's dream.

Today's feast at its core offers us the same reassurance Mary had. God gave her
the grace to be and become all God longed for her to be. That same faithful God
fills us with Grace, asks us to move from fear to trust and waits for our surrender.

Our maxims are filled with this invitation to trust grace and the movements of the
Holy Spirit, to seek to be in harmony with God's dream and design for us and the
Universe. My prayer is may You be through me all that You desire - You who are
Only Love.

 

--Rita Woehlcke, SSJ

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