Who? Me? How?

"Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle." --St. Josemaria Escriva

Gospel Text: (MT 1:18-25)
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,

which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son,
and he named him Jesus.

For those of us who have heard/read this excerpt a multitude of times, it is easy for us to be desensitized to Mary’s amazing faith in the Lord. Today, we are challenged to think about how immensely powerful her faith was, and to reflect on our own faith in God. When we hear a calling to be a certain person, or to do something that we may not want to do, in order to be the person God intended us to be, will we accept that call?

As you go about your day today, try to say “yes” to God in as many ways as you can. Start by saying “yes” with your heart when God tells you that you are special to him, so special that no one fills your place in his heart but you.

Keep that “yes” in your heart and in the spring in your step. And try your best to spread this confidence to everyone you know.