Delegation Great Britain – Ireland<\/p>\n
“I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me<\/em>.” Luke 1: 38<\/p>\n Mary\u2019s radical \u2018yes\u2019 at the Annunciation sets her life on a path of collaboration with God\u2026<\/em> RL 17<\/p>\n Fourth Sunday of Advent 2020<\/p>\n “I am the handmaid of the Lord “<\/em>Luke 1:28<\/p>\n Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent and the time of waiting is drawing to a close. The Gospel recalls the Annunciation to a young Jewish woman called Mary living in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee and to whom the Angel Gabriel spoke,<\/p>\n Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you!<\/em><\/p>\n Take some moments to slowly read Luke1:26-38<\/span> and reflect on the conversation between Mary and Gabriel. Can you put yourself in Mary\u2019s shoes and imagine how you might feel, noting that Mary herself was \u2018deeply disturbed by these words\u2019<\/em> and wondered what they could mean. Mary is being called to \u2018rejoice\u2019,<\/em> is \u2018highly favoured\u2019 by God and that the \u2018Lord is with you\u2019.<\/em> These words are highly significant and are frequently used in the Old Testament when God specifically calls and sends people such as Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Esther and Ruth to carry out a particular mission. In response to Mary\u2019s concern, Gabriel assures her \u2018Do not be afraid, for you have found favour with God\u2019<\/em> and asks her to Listen!<\/em><\/p>\n Have you ever been aware in your life that you have felt called to make a change and have been \u2018deeply disturbed\u2019 about what this could mean? God may have been inviting you to an unexpected situation, or to face a new challenge. Like Mary, was I troubled and pondered on what God was asking of me? Had I the courage to not be afraid but to listen and open my heart to God\u2019s will?<\/p>\n “The Holy Spirit will come upon you<\/em> “You are to conceive and bear a Son,<\/em> Mary is told by Gabriel she has won God\u2019s favour and is \u2018to conceive and bear a Son\u2019<\/em>. While very young, she accepted the message of the angel, yet she was not afraid to ask questions. (Luke 1: 38)<\/span> With an open heart and soul, she replied \u2018I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me\u2019.<\/em> There is a sense of great strength in Mary\u2019s \u2018yes\u2019. Hers was the \u2018yes\u2019 of someone prepared to be committed, with no more security than the certainty of knowing that she was the bearer of great promise and hope. Mary\u2019s mission would undoubtedly be difficult but again she would have heard the angel\u2019s words, \u2018nothing is impossible to God\u2019.<\/em> She has not chosen this mission for herself, but finds herself chosen by God and consents. Nor is the \u2018yes\u2019<\/em> for just one moment in time but for always as she accompanied her Son to the foot of the cross and remained in prayer with the disciples and other women while waiting for the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost.<\/p>\n What about my \u2018yes\u2019 this Advent?<\/em><\/p>\n Mary\u2019s radical \u2018yes\u2019 at the Annunciation sets her life on a path of collaboration with God. In this same spirit, we express our \u2018yes\u2019. Together, in the light of the Word of God, we discern Wisdom at work and seek, according to our charism, the best way to respond to her invitations.<\/em> (RL 17,19)<\/span><\/p>\n The \u2018yes\u2019 of our baptism and the \u2018yes\u2019 of our Profession as Daughters of Wisdom are lifelong and include the daily \u2018yes\u2019 of small everyday things. Mary\u2019s total gift of herself was motivated by love.<\/p>\n “This Advent may Mary guide me to live my daily \u2018yes\u2019 <\/em> Immediately after the Annunciation Mary set out \u2018in haste\u2019<\/em> to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also with child. In spite of all that Mary had just experienced, she did not think of herself but thought of her cousin. In so doing Mary becomes the first messenger of Good News. Elizabeth too is filled with the Holy Spirit in greeting Mary, hailing her as \u2018blessed among women\u2019<\/em>. Reflect on this meeting between Mary and Elizabeth and how, as two pregnant women, they would have shared together their remarkable experiences. How might Mary\u2019s example inspire you?<\/p>\n Following Mary\u2019s example, who hastened to be with Elizabeth, our community groups are attentive to the call and needs of those around them in order to improve their human and spiritual condition.<\/em> RL 40<\/span> . In these last few days before Christmas let us journey with Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem. O Wisdom Come!<\/em><\/p>\n Mary, Virgin and Mother,<\/em> Image source : Pixabay<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Delegation Great Britain – Ireland “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.” Luke 1: 38 Mary\u2019s radical \u2018yes\u2019 at the Annunciation sets her life on a path of collaboration with God\u2026 RL 17 Fourth Sunday of Advent 2020 “I am the handmaid of the Lord “Luke […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[43,90,89],"class_list":["post-4883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-g-b-i-en","tag-prayer","tag-priere-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nand the power of the Most High <\/em>
\nwill cover you with its shadow.<\/em> ”
\nLuke 1:26-38<\/span><\/p>\n
\nand you must name Him Jesus.”<\/em>
\nLuke 1: 26-38<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwith deeper love and joy.<\/em>
\nAnd Mary set out and went with haste\u2026”<\/em>
\nLuke 1: 39-45<\/span><\/p>\n
\nyou who, moved by the Holy Spirit,<\/em>
\nwelcomed the Word of life<\/em>
\nin the depths of your humble faith:<\/em>
\nhelp us to say our own \u201cyes\u201d<\/em>
\nto the urgent call, as present as ever,<\/em>
\nto proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.<\/em>
\nPope Francis\/EG 288<\/span><\/p>\n