To Do Your Will

To Do Your Will

April 8, 2013

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Listen, O house of David!  Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us!”  Isaiah 7:13-14, 8:10

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.  Psalm 40:8-9a

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.  May it be done to me according to your word.”  Luke 1:38

Piety

"Here I am.”  Those three little words have been on the lips of saints and sinners throughout salvation history.  Here I am.  Words that are now on our lips and in our readings for today.  We have to be here and now to build a relationship with Jesus.  And we have to realize that Jesus is here and now and wants to build a relationship with us. 

Lord, draw us out of our selfish pursuits and self-destructive behaviors. Set our feet upon the holy ground that you have cultivated for our personal and communal spiritual growth. Put your song of praise on our minds, on our lips and in our hearts.

Help us to turn our back on seeking happiness and security in this world from Johnny Walker or Jim Beam. From Ipod or Izod. From the NCAA and the NBA. From the golf course or the baseball diamond. From the stock markets or the savings account.

Send the Holy Spirit to inspire change – a change in the direction in which we are looking for happiness. Revive us from sleep-walking through life to live with you.

Study

As we make our way through Easter season, the readings remind us of the commission that the apostles received.  We see how the Twelve were , at first, reluctant or in fear and retreated back into their old ways of life. 

Tucked into our second week of Easter is another commissioning: the commissioning of Mary as announced by an angel of the Lord.  As a contrast to the disciples who locked themselves away for fear of authorities and self-doubt, Mary unlocked her life in its entirety.  Although she did briefly question the angel about how she could bring the son of God into the world. without hesitation, Mary surrendered her desires to the will of God.

Action

Do you have a will?  The legal kind -- you know…the document that starts Being of sound mind, I declare this my last will and testament.  That document serves as an instruction book for those who remain behind about what to do with your possessions.  

Jesus came into the world just like us -- with nothing.  He left the same way.  Yet he left a "will" for us in the words that were remembered and then written down by his followers.  Mary left a "will" for us as well in her obedience, humility and acceptance of the will of God above and beyond any of her own desires for her life.  Before that angel stepped into her life, what were Mary's dreams?  We will never know because she set those goals aside in an instant. 

What is your will?  What is God's will for you?  How do they converge?  How do they differ?