V/ My eyes are turned to you, O Lord.

R/ You are the joy and gladness of my youth.

V/ Grant me the Wisdom that sits by your throne.

R/ That I may dwell as a child in your presence.

Let us pray

O God, who willed that Your Word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the message of an Angel, grant that we, who celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation, may be made partakers of His divine nature. Give us the grace of a listening heart, that we may be truly docile and ready to welcome Your will into our lives this day. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

BE IT DONE IN ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD

By Elizabeth Sudlow

The Solemnity of The Annunciation of The Lord

Isaiah 7:10–14, 8:10; Psalm 40:7–11; Hebrews 10:4–10; Luke 1:26–38

When Mary, having sought clarification from the Angel, freely expressed her extraordinary words, ‘Let it be done to me according to your word’, she consented to co-operate in the Incarnation and all that would follow. At that moment, the whole of creation awaited the ‘fiat’ of Mary.

Mary is presented to us as the perfect model of discipleship, to be imitated for her full, conscious, and responsible acceptance of the divine proposal that would restore the life of grace to humanity. Mary heard God’s word and responded to the love she had received with love in return; what better example exists for us?

Mary’s openness to God sprang from her having been preserved from all sin from the moment of her conception. In accordance with His will, God prepared her to become the Mother of Jesus. This immersion in the divine will throughout her life brought an inner freedom of the kind St John of the Cross describes in the soul united to the Beloved.

Mary is the first person we can identify as having lived in complete unity with the Trinity. From before her birth, she lived in the image and likeness of God, docile to the tiniest inspiration of grace. Viewed through this lens, her full and joyful assent to the Angel’s proposal—though still marvellous—becomes more comprehensible. Here we see the essence of our own calling: the mystical teachings of St John and St Teresa of Avila embodied in our Blessed Mother. Most importantly, her assistance in helping us do the same is available to each of us today.

How can we mirror Mary’s virtues and loving response to God’s will? Her life was rooted in God, humble and detached, relying on Him for every need like the anawim of old. As a poor child of the Lord, she was dependent upon Him for everything. Empty of self, recognising God as her only Saviour, her spirit of detachment reflects the humility St Teresa of Avila considered essential to the spiritual life. We, too, can take delight in Him as Mary did, living consciously in God’s presence and remaining ready for all He might ask of us.

Though it may appear obvious when pondering Mary’s life that she took time to remain in God’s presence, we must actively mirror this if we are to emulate her virtues. To hear His voice through our own lives and those around us, we must ‘hear the Word of God and keep it’ as He unfolds it day by day. Walking in faith, we can say our ‘fiat’ with her, in that full availability of heart that comes from deep humility.

Mary’s positive response was given the moment she understood what was being asked of her. As St Augustine said, Mary ‘conceived first in her heart and then in her womb’, so much was she already filled with God and abandoned to His care. Ultimately, the Annunciation offers a perennial message of joy. We rejoice in the Incarnation and the salvation of humanity. We also rejoice in Mary’s joyful reception of the invitation. The more we show God our gratitude, the more we live in joy, humility, and openness to His will.

Mary’s earthly life was lived in full obedience to her calling as Mother of Jesus; her heavenly glory is to be our Mother and Mother of the Church. May we live with Mary as our encouragement, helping us to tackle life’s woes and teaching us to offer ourselves to those around us in loving service.

Prayer

Lord God, who through the fiat of the Blessed Virgin Mary brought the Light of the World into our midst, grant us the grace of a docile heart. Help us to be empty of self and attentive to Your inspirations, that we may mirror the humility of our Mother in all we do. May our lives become a living “yes” to Your holy will, bringing the presence of Christ to those we serve. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Points for Reflection

1. In what areas of my life am I currently seeking God’s guidance, and am I listening for His voice with a heart already prepared to say “yes”?

2. How can I better recognise my total dependence on God, like the anawim (the poor of the Lord) of the Old Testament?

3. What “word” or prompt is God speaking into my heart today that He wishes to bring to life through my actions?

Spiritual Practice: The Three-Minute Fiat

Set three reminders on your phone today (at morning, noon, and evening) to pause for one minute. In that moment of silence, consciously offer your current task, your worries, and your joys to God with the words: “Lord, let it be done to me according to Your word.” Observe how this “pause of presence” shifts your perspective from self-reliance to divine dependence.

Phrase to Remember

“Conceived first in the heart, then in the womb.” — St Augustine