Daily Gospel Reflection for December 12, 2018

Today's Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 - Our Lady of Guadalupe As we read the Annunciation account in today’s Gospel, I reflect upon how attentive Mary is to God. Her entire life must have been made up of a series of yeses that prepared her for the pinnacle yes she gives to God’s salvific plan. She responds to Him without hesitation and delay … and without knowing all of the details. She trusts Him fully. Her faith in His faithfulness is whole and complete. I stand in awe of Mary’s “blind” yes, especially when I think about all that happens in her life. Embracing an unexpected pregnancy. Giving birth in a stable. Being exiled into Egypt. Losing Jesus in the temple. Enduring the animosity people had toward her son. Watching Jesus be brutally beaten and killed. Seeing Him resurrected. Being assumed into heaven and crowned a queen. Appearing to people all over the world in various apparitions. Out of love for Mary, God only gives her what she needs to know, when she needs to know it. This allows Mary to trust and not worry. She lets God take care of each phase of the plan, and she relies on His grace to take her there. God invites us into this same type of trusting relationship. He has a plan of sheer goodness for each of us, and He earnestly tells us “do not be afraid.” Like Mary, we do not need to know all the details to say yes to God’s plan. All we need to do is trust, and God will reveal His plan to us step-by-step and day-by-day. For nothing is impossible for God.