Let it be done unto me according to your will
I am always amazed at Mary’s reaction when told that she was to be the mother of God. As a young unwed Jewish girl, she should have been terrified, but instead of reacting with fear she calmly responded “Let it be done unto me according to your will.” Throughout her life she responded with a peaceful acceptance to God’s will. St. Luke wrote that “Mary kept all of these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Throughout her life she was completely at peace because she trusted in God.
Mary’s life was completely changed by the conception and birth of her son. I can only imagine how overwhelming this must have been for her; the future must have seemed incredibly distressing. But even in the uneasiness and confusion of that time, I cannot help but picture a woman completely at peace; filled with faith and trust in God.We might ask ourselves how Mary could have possibly been so calm in such chaotic and desperate time. I’m sure part of it was her personality, but certainly the presence of God within her, so deep that she produced God’s only son, had to have provided her with certain calmness. Life is never free from danger and difficulties, but as Mary watched her newborn son, she must have sensed God’s love and presence and that must have brought her great peace and joy.
We should try to emulate Mary, who when she heard the news from the shepherds, turned inward and kept her thoughts between herself and God. We can only imagine how she must have felt, what she must have thought. To be chosen by God to bear His son, the Savior of the world; to hear her son called the Messiah, the anointed one—Emmanuel, “God with us” —must have caused her great anxiety and concern.
The Holy Spirit filled Mary with peace and gave her the courage to become the Theotokos, the Mother of God. Likewise we are filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit; we have been blessed with His presence and love; we have been filled with the peace and the courage to faithfully accept her son’s saving graces.
Whenever we receive the Eucharist we should, like Mary, take a moment to reflect silently in our hearts on the precious gift we have received, to thank God for watching over us and for His great love.
