Thank you, Mary - Meditation for Tuesday of Advent IV

Let it be done to me....

Mary, Mary,
where did you get
the courage
to talk with an angel?
How did you get past the fear
to take it all in?
You knew yourself to be
just an ordinary woman,
almost still a child yourself.
You had found God's favor!
Why, you wondered.
You had not done great deeds;
your life was plain and simple.
You did not see yourself as special.
And the favor God had for you
was not so easy to accept.
You were not yet ready
to have a child.
You questioned the angel;
you questioned God in this--
How can this be?
You were not afraid to question.
A child now?
That might cause
your current expectations
for a simple life
to fall apart.
What would this mean for you?
And yet,
the angel reassured you
that God was with you.
So you said,
Let it be...
according to God's will,
not knowing then
how the child
would complicate
your life,
and bring you joy
but also sorrow
beyond your imagining.
Some women would have cried out
I am chosen!
filled with pride.
Some women would have cringed
and said
I cannot!
filled with fear.
You said,
Let it be,
and that was that.
Lord, help me be willing
to bring to birth
whatever you ask of me,
not fearing the future,
not increasing in pride,
but simply being
available and willing
each day
with trust
in you
and your angels
to bring new life,
new love, new hope
to birth
in a world that
is filled with pride and fear.
Thank you, Mary,
for saying, Yes.
Help me, Lord,
to at least whisper to you
an occasional Yes of my own.

The readings for Tuesday of Advent IV (22 Dec 2015) are:

Psalm: 66,67
OT: 1 Sam 2:1b-10
NT: Titus 2:1-10
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

and can be found at www.satucket.com/lectionary/2Advent4.htm