Mary, the handmaid of the Lord

SCRIPTURE
- Luke 1:38
“And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her” 

REFLECTION
- Jen

MUSIC
- Be Present at Our Table, Lord

Be Thou My Vision

NOTES
- 

PRAYER OF LETTING GO
To You do I belong, O God,
 into Your hands I surrender my life.
 Pour out Your Spirit upon me
 that I may love You perfectly,
 and serve You faithfully
 until my soul rests in You.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:19

Good morning. This is Umberto. Some of you may remember me from our guided meditation series, but I'm delighted and honored to be returning now as a prayer leader. So thank you for joining us today, and welcome to prayer. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.

SPEAKER_03 0:53

Psalm 15. Living in the shining place. O God, who dares to dwell with you? Who presumes the privilege of being close to you? Living next to you in your shining place of glory.

SPEAKER_02 1:19

They are the passionate and wholehearted, always sincere and always speaking the truth, for their hearts are trustworthy. They refuse to slander or listen to gossip or rumors.

SPEAKER_03 1:38

They will speak out passionately against evil and against evil workers, while commending the faithful ones who follow after the truth. They make firm commitments and follow through, even at great cost.

SPEAKER_02 2:01

They never crush others with mean words or abuse, and they would never be brought with a bribe against the innocent. They will never be shaken with you as their God, they will stand firm forever.

SPEAKER_03 2:21

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_02 2:28

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.

SPEAKER_00 2:32

Amen. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke, chapter 1, verse 38. Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her. Sometimes I'm all Yeah. I want to be like Mary and let God do everything in me. And then sometimes thinking that something's going to be done to me makes me recoil. Something being done to me grates up against my strong independent woman vibes. Mary, quintessential, strong, independent woman, says, let it be done to me. Not I will do it. Why is it that I will do it? Seems so much more appealing to me. Maybe that's because in order to do something, I get to know at least what it is that I must do. And then I get to decide when and how and with whom. She said yes to something that she had to receive and carry. Now there's definitely room for doing in our lives of faith. I mean, at some point, saints are absolutely asked to say, I will do it. Joseph, for instance, do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife, into your home. Rise, take the child and his mother, and go to Egypt. Those are by no means easy tasks, but different requests required different responses. Joseph needed to rise and take control. In my prayer and responding to God in my life, it has been important for me to discern which response God is asking of me. I will do it or let it be done. In order to know which response is required, I have to really know what it is God is asking of me. Does He want me to step up and do? Or be quiet and receive. It seems to me that in the absence of a specific task, like our Joseph examples, much of our daily cooperation with the Lord is of the Marian variety. Receive that which comes to you in the daily obligations of your vocation. Accept with peace the divine providence of circumstance that comes your way. Sometimes it's the circumstance of those daily delights and annoyances. And sometimes it's the bigger circumstances that make it seem like we've been dealt a bad hand. I am sure that the circumstance of the annunciation for a young bride was one of those uh this sounds way too heavy for me circumstances. But Mary's let it be done to me. It sounds a lot like Jesus's not my will, but yours be done. Those two are totally related. And I hope someone can say that about me someday. That my responses sound like theirs. That someday, throughout all my trials, someone might think that I sound like my mother Mary and my brother, my Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 7:25

With confidence, we pray, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, help me to trust you with all my heart, even when I cannot see the path ahead. Teach me to surrender my plans and embrace your perfect will. Give me peace in every circumstance, courage to follow where you lead, and faith to believe that you are working all things for my good and your glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord. To you do I belong, O God. Into your hands I surrender my life, pour our Spirit upon me, that I may love you perfectly and serve you faithfully until my soul rests in you. Thank you for joining us today. As you go about your day, let one mantra fill your heart. Not my will, Lord, but thine be done. And may Almighty God bless you, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. So go forth in love and joy, and we'll see you tomorrow.