March 31, 2008: Monday of the Second Week of Easter

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10
Ps 40:7-11
Heb 10:4-10
Luke 1:26-38

The right hand of God

The story of Our Lord's Annunciation in today's Gospel passage reaches the high point when Mary says, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word." A handmaid is someone whose essential function is to assist. ASSIST! Not: Take charge of. Not: Become the Savior of. Not: Be such a good priest or lay minister or religious brother/sister that people admire you and give you credit for a job well done.

An assistant is often called the employer's "right hand" or, more literally, an extension of the employer's hand. When I am given an assignment by God, such as "write a book" or "give a retreat" or "start up a new section of the website", my first inclination is to kick into high gear with all the skills and enthusiasm that God has given me. Although this seems holy, it is not.

And when I see someone lost in the darkness of sin and God nudges me to intervene, my strong sense of caring drives me into action, and if I don't see results fast enough, I assume that it's because I'm not trying hard enough and must push into higher gear.

None of this is being a handmaid of the Lord. It's me being me, stretching out my own hand to see how far I can make it reach. Let's consider how Mary modeled the assistant's job:

(1) She responded first with great faith in her master.

(2) A good handmaid listens closely to what the master wants. Mary said, "Let it be done to me according to your word." She was a good listener.

(3) She left the consequences of her "yes" in God's hands. She did not make her "yes" conditional, as in "Okay, but just make sure the townsfolk don't stone me."

(4) Her consent came from true humility. She accepted the value that God gave to her yet she knew she could do nothing valuable without him. She gave herself to God completely, knowing that she had something to give while also knowing that God's goodness was far greater than her own best efforts.

(5) Mary united her will to the intentions and actions of God. The Father intended to redeem the world through his Son; Mary intended to redeem the world through her Son in accordance with his plan as it unfolded. The Father let his Son die for our sins; Mary let go of her Son as she watched him suffer, even though she didn't yet understand the plan.

Mary is still God's handmaid for the redemption of the world. She assists God whenever we need his helping hand in our lives. And she teaches us to do the same for others. How can you serve as God's hand for the people around you? Observe and listen to what he is asking you to do for him today and say, "Lord, let it be done to me according to your will; I am your handmaid (or handy-man)." And then give your Master the credit for a job well done.

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