Luke 1: 26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
At the core of the Annunciation is a teenage village girl’s trust in the goodness of God. Mother Mary is faithful in the face of uncertainty and real danger. She could have been stoned if found pregnant outside of marriage. It was an uncertain time. All Mary knew was that the God of the universe was calling her to say “yes” and she did. She did it for the greater glory of God.
What is God calling you to do in the face of uncertainty?
God calls us all to be courageous giving us scripture to stand on, scripture that reminds us that we are loved sinners never to be abandoned. Mary shows us how to embrace Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (For the Greater Glory of God) by her giving everything for God’s glory: her heart, her body, her will and her son. She answers the call with wonder and joy.
Again, I ask you brothers and sisters in Christ, what is God calling you to say yes to for the greater glory of God?
—Terresa Michele Ford is an Ignatian spiritual director, palliative care chaplain and artist who has written for Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center, Catholic Women Preach, and the Black Catholic Messenger. She holds an M.Div. from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and an MFA in painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art and serves as a Reflector for the Ignatian Volunteer Corp.
Prayer
Father God, imbue us with the courage to say yes to your will for your greater glory. Teach us to see you in all things, and all people. We ask this humbly with the confidence that you love us and will answer. We ask this in the merciful name of your son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
—Terresa Michele Ford