The Impossible!

This December, a series of daily Advent, devotional postings is running from December 1st to December 25^th. Journey beside Mary, the Mother of God, as she waits for the birth of Jesus.

STRENGTH

Scripture: “For nothing will be impossible for God” (Luke 1:37).

Quote of the Day: “Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything” (St. Teresa of Avila).

Song Suggestions:
“When You Believe,” from The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack
“Impossible,” by The Newsboys

Questions: Will you say “yes” to what God asks of you? Do you currently say, “yes?” Do you believe that nothing will be impossible for God?

MIND

Let’s go back to yesterday’s scene of Mary on the rooftop with the angel. This is the Annunciation; the angel announcing the coming of Jesus!

Okay, the angel has just told Mary that the power of the Most High will overshadow her and the child will be the Son of God.

Mary gazes at the angel in awe, her lips slightly parted. The Son of God. In her womb?

The angel continues, surprising Mary with more wonders. “And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren.”

Mary’s lips part even more. Elizabeth? Elizabeth! Her cousin is far over twice her age! Probably three times her age. People call Elizabeth as barren as a desert, without the honor of a child. It is believed by some that this is a sign that God has turned His face from her.

“For nothing will be impossible for God,” the angel finishes and gazes at Mary kindly, allowing the mysteries to sink into her mind.

Such mysteries will be contemplated for all eternity! Mary thinks. She knows how to wait for the Lord so that when He comes, she may welcome Him!

“Behold,” Mary says without hesitation, a slight smile dawning on her lips, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

(Scriptural Reference and Inspiration: Luke 1:36-38)

HEART

Mary’s “yes” is called fiat. As Eve disobeyed God when eating the forbidden fruit, Mary obeyed God, so that the fruit of her womb could be the Son of God.

Father Federico Suarez, the author of the book, Mary of Nazareth, puts fiat very nicely when he says,

In the pronouncing of the word fiat, ‘be it done unto me’; the Virgin’s answer is definite and final; its force impresses us. It is more than a simple ‘yes.’ Once the request was answered, there could be no subsequent changes of heart; it demanded a complete submission of the will; an abandonment of herself, not to do some specific thing, but to do all the things that God had planned for her in exactly the way that He intended that they should be done; she was asked to renounce completely the right to plan her own life.

Let us give our own fiat to God. And let us remember that Mary did not know all that bearing the Son of God would entail. She hardly knew anything! How to tell Joseph, what her life would be like with a Divine Child, and how to be the Mother to God Himself!

We don’t know everything either! We may hardly know anything! Without hesitation or delay, let’s dive right in with Mary and say, “yes.” For nothing will be impossible for God.

SOUL

Oh, Lord! I wait and wait for You. Sometimes it feels like I’m waiting forever. But when You finally come, I can hesitate to say “yes” to You. Help me to say, “yes” when You ask something of me. Help me to say “yes,” daily, and “yes,” every moment of my life to loving You. Help me to give a fiat like Mary’s.

I say this to you now, oh Lord: Behold, I am the handmaid (servant) of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.

Mary, let me accompany you on this journey. I am scared but trusting! Send graces to me, Full of Grace, that the Lord may be with me.

Mary, teach me how to wait