Where Our Choice Lies

Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38

We are often given the impression that Gabriel comes to Mary announcing the coming of Jesus and seeking her permission for this to take place.  But read the story again: the angel is not asking any such permissions.  Mary will conceive and she will bring forth the coming Messiah.  God has already decreed it to be so.  

What Mary has to decide is how she is going to respond to this call and mission.  Will she receive it and carry it out with love and joy, or will she be like Jonah and seek to run away from it, grumble, and complain the whole time?  We could certainly understand if Mary had trepidation at this announcement: how are you going to explain to your intended spouse that you are pregnant and that it is from God?  What will people do if I am found pregnant before our final nuptials?  Mary has much to fear, but she accepts with joy and love.

We too have the same announcement given to us.  We have no choice in the matter: we are called to bring forth Christ in the world as well.  The only question is how we will accept and carry out this calling.  Will we do so, like Mary, in joy and love, or will we seek to run away from it, or deny it, or complain the entire time?  Today's feast is a day for us to reflect on how we have thus far accepted and carried out this mission, and how we will seek to do so in the present and future.