Day 35 · The Nativity Fast
Let It Be to Me
“Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.”Luke 1:38
Reflection
Mary asked one honest question, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34), and then she gave her answer: “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Early Fathers such as St Irenaeus saw in her freely given yes the undoing of Eve's disobedience. God did not force his way into the world; he waited for a human being's consent. That is why the Orthodox Church honours Mary as the Theotokos, the one who gave birth to God, and asks for her prayers. Her “let it be” is the pattern for every Christian life.
A prayer
Lord, give me the courage of the Virgin Mary to say yes to you. Let it be to me according to your word: in my work, my family, my sorrows, and my joys. Most holy Theotokos, pray for us. Amen.
Carry this with you
Where is God asking for your “let it be” right now?