In order to fulfil God’s will in each of our lives, let us step into Mary’s shoes on the day of the Annunciation. Based on Mary’s reaction of being “much perplexed” when greeted by the angel Gabriel, it is highly unlikely that God has given her any hint or warning beforehand (ref. Luke 1:29). Therefore, it is reasonable for us to conclude that Mary is not psychologically prepared for such a shocking invitation from God. Since she is already engaged to Joseph, we can also conclude that she must have made a plan for herself. God’s unexpected intervention, indeed, has completely upset the original plan of Mary and Joseph. In fact, Mary was determined to remain a virgin for God, the rest of her life, when she was only a teenager. God interrupted her plan and asked her to bear a child, a difficult and awkward request indeed, and to raise not just an ordinary child but the Son of God. That seems like a responsibility beyond human ability! Yet, Mary says “yes” to God’s shocking invitation without hesitation nor delay! The equally shocking speed of Mary’s response has revealed one of her important characteristics.
In the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 55, Verses 8 to 9, God said,
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
If the distance between God’s thoughts and ways and ours is so vast, knowing that He will invite each one of us, it is inevitable that throughout our lives, He will ask us to do something that may not be our preference. Whether we can hear His invitation and respond to Him positively is dependent upon our attitude. We can certainly learn from our Mother Mary.
When faced with unexpected changes in life, if Mary was rigid and stubborn instead of being open, she would not be able to respond positively to God’s unanticipated invitation! If we decide to “live for God”, we need to cooperate with God’s plan, follow His will with all our hearts, and allow Him to intervene in our lives according to His schedule. Such “flexibility” is the key to whether we are able to allow God’s plan to be fulfilled through us.
When we allow for God’s intervention in our lives, we are also letting God intervene in our lives through other people, which may alter the short- or long-term direction and trajectory of our lives.
This idea may seem terrifying; however, this is the key to whether we can become God’s “handy” instruments. Unfortunately, most of us are often unwilling to let God, His truth, and those who are sent by God, “disrupt” our lives and everyday life. This has created a barrier to promoting God’s plan on earth! If we are uncooperative or unwilling to compromise, we will become a barrier to progress!
The culprit of our rigidity and stubbornness is our overpowering personal preferences and likes/dislikes. Such preferences have often become our “attachments” that prevent us from recognizing the truth and entirety of facts, and hinder us from receiving God’s prompts and messages for us.
Since God’s thoughts and ways are often different from ours, it is difficult for us to hear God’s messages accurately; coupled with our personal preferences, it is even harder for us to hear God’s invitations, let alone responding positively to His invitations!
If we want to be useful instruments in God’s hand, we must examine our life’s preferences,
since these preferences can often prevent us from making decisions that are pleasing to God; hence, making it difficult for us to accept God’s invitation with a submissive heart, and causing us to miss the opportunity to collaborate with God and participate in His “salvific plan”. God will certainly be disappointed and His heart will be broken!
Reflection
Do you consider yourself as someone who has overpowering personal preferences or likes/dislikes? How do these preferences affect your interactions with others?
How do these overpowering personal preferences affect the way in which you respond to God’s invitations?
Can you imagine how God would feel when we refuse to let go of our personal preferences and turn down God’s invitations?
Today’s Prayer
Abba, my Father in Heaven, thank You for opening my eyes to recognize some of the most powerful preferences in my life that have prevented me from receiving Your messages and prompts, which in turn has a direct impact on my ability to heed Your invitation, resulting in my failure to positively responding to Your will in my life. I know that I have disappointed You so many times in the past. Please forgive me. Teach me how to let go of my baggage of preferences so that I may be free to observe Your will in all I do. I am willing to learn from and follow the example of Mary, our Holy Mother, so that I may be able to say to You without hesitation, “Let it be with me according to your word!” (Luke 1:38) For this I pray in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.