His Will

   “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 38)

   Our Blessed Mother’s response to the angel Gabriel is the response each of us should live by.  Mary freely chose to subject herself to possible accusations of adultery.  She accepted the long arduous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem in her ninth month of pregnancy.  She gave birth in a stable and laid her newborn in a manger.  She lived as a refugee in Egypt to protect her newborn son, our Savior.  She endured the pain of seeing her son brutally beaten and nailed to a cross to die.  In all of this she remained the servant of the Lord; she accepted God’s will in all things.

Each of us must, at some point decide if we will be the servant of the Lord.  We have a choice, just as Mary did, to refuse His calling and His will in our life.  If we have the faith and courage to accept His will our lives will be changed just as Mary’s was.

   The history of Christianity is filled with examples of those who chose to become the Lord’s servants.  Those who forfeited their own will to accept the will of God.  Some have suffered persecution and martyrdom for their decision.  Some have been the spark that lit the flame of faith in thousands or even millions of people.  We have no way of knowing what God has in store for us should we say yes to Him, but we can be confident of the heavenly home He has prepared for those who love Him.

   The choice is ours.  God will not force us to choose Him and no one can make the decision for us.  Of all the choices we will make in our life this is the most personal and the most important.

Lord, I choose You.

Let me be a servant to You will.

Amen

   “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  (Joshua 24: 15)