The Day After "Yes"

Yesterday we celebrated the biggest "YES" humanity will ever experience. It was that moment when the Virgin Mary faithfully answered her calling by saying, "Let it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). With complete faith and trust Mary gave her yes to God. She did not know what it would lead to, nor did she question his request. She did not know of the suffering that she would come to endure - she simply and trustingly said YES. So, why is it so hard for us to do the same?

Sadly, we are fallen creatures and saying yes ultimately means giving up control of our own lives. It is hard to say yes when we do not fully understand what the calling entails or if it is a calling that we do not desire for ourselves.

Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden" (Luke 1:46-48).

Mary's faithfulness and trust in God is what enabled her to say yes without knowing or understanding the journey that she was about to travel. Unlike Mary, we often allow doubt, fear, and despair to overshadow our decisions or our ability to make decisions.

Late last year I felt burdened by a task put in front of me. Having done this task before I knew that it was not something I wanted to take on again. However, I knew that I had to give my answer sooner rather than later. Overcome with thoughts of despair I heard a strong voice from my heart say, "I want you to do this." Instinctively I answered, "but I don't want to." Then I started crying and after a minute I replied, "but I want to be obedient to your will." Instantly I was filled with a sense of peace only given by God. Even though I was not entirely sure how my yes would play out, I was at peace and knew that God would be with me.

Unfortunately, not long in to the task I began to feel frustrated with its direction. I remember sitting in my chair one morning sobbing. I looked to my Divine Mercy image for comfort and said, "Lord, you wanted me to do this, but I don't know how." It did not take long for me to realize the how. I just looked at him and said, "Jesus, I trust in you" and went about my business.

I promise you that Mary did not live with the doubt that we often have when we give God our yes. She was not asking herself: why did I say yes, is it too late to change my mind, or what will this mean for me and my future? No! Mary pondered what was said and done in her heart. She did not complain - she prayed. Yes, Mary suffered, but unlike most of humanity, she NEVER lost trust in God. She humbled herself and aligned her will with God's will. She knew from those first words - "be not afraid" - that God's plan was greater than anything she could imagine (Luke 1:30). She knew that God would not leave her side, and in the end, she would not leave his. Mary knew that her YES was not just for her sake but for the sake of the whole world.

As for me, it is not often that I hear the Lord speak to me as clearly as he did that day, but for whatever the reason I knew there was purpose in his calling - a purpose that is still unfolding.

So, how can our yes sound more like Mary's YES? We trust! When doubt, fear, and/or despair creep into our hearts and minds, we pray and discern, but be not afraid to say yes. The day after our yes may not look as we imagined, but God will NEVER call us to something that will lead us astray from our ultimate calling which is the eternal life with him.

Let us pray for each other. Mama Mary, pray for us.