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~ Surrender ~

March 1

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalms 46:10

My husband and I often spend time at a lake in northern Wisconsin. At dusk, once the fishermen retire, the lake becomes quiet and still. We like to drift with the tide on a pontoon boat and watch magnificent sunsets. This is followed by a clear view of a breathtaking night sky which features billions of stars. There the breadth and depth of God’s creation is set before us. With minds free from distractions, we are ready to embrace the silence and totally surrender to God’s loving presence.

Total surrender to God means that we, like Mary, accept that we are not in control of what God may call us to do. Mary’s life invites us to trust in God’s providence, to let go and allow our creator God to work within us. We are his, and God has a plan for us. Stillness and silence invite God to lead. When we finally surrender our lives to God, we will come fully alive.

— Sharon A. Abel, PhD

TAKE TIME TODAY to be still. Surrender to the presence of the Lord. Listen for what God is speaking to you. May your response be, “Lead me, Lord.”

Prayer: Mary, you have taught me how to be still before the Lord. You listened, God spoke, and his plan for our salvation fell into place. May I listen, and surrender, to God’s plan for me.

March 2

“At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.” — Luke 2:21

When the time came, Mary and Joseph chose to name their Son, Jesus. This was not a family name, but rather the one that had been given to the child by the angel Gabriel. Mary surrendered her preferences and was obedient to the angel’s instruction.

Obedience is not a popular concept in our culture. But many misunderstand what true obedience is. Obedience to the will of God is not something imposed upon us; it is something we must freely choose to do. Obedience doesn’t mean that we don’t think for ourselves or that we have lost all sense of our identity. On the contrary, obedience to God means that we have found our true identity as beloved sons and daughters of the Lord. Then it is a joy for us to follow the ways of the Lord, as it was for Mary.

— Dr. Mary Amore

CONSIDER HOW YOU MIGHT DEEPEN your obedience to God and renew your spiritual journey.

Prayer: Blessed Mother, help me to be obedient to the will of God, that I may freely surrender my life into his loving care.

March 3

“And Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” — John 2:4

At the wedding feast in Cana, Jesus listened to the prompting of his mother and changed water into wine. When Mary says, “Do whatever he tells you,” she is also speaking to all of us. If we follow Mary’s directive and adhere to the will of the Lord, then the watery events of our lives have the opportunity to be changed into choice wine as well.

Jesus’ words are clear and straightforward; yet how often do we fail to do what the Lord asks of us? At times, it seems that our broken world takes great delight in meeting conflict and diversity with hatred and condemnation. Spiritual transformation is possible, but only if we are willing to surrender our own willfulness over to the Lord so that we may follow Mary’s example and do whatever Jesus tells us.

— Lauren Nelson

IF YOU WERE STANDING in the presence of our Blessed Mother and she told you to do whatever he tells you, what would your response be?

Prayer: Mary, help us to listen to the words of your Son, Jesus, that we may do whatever he asks of us.

March 4

“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13

At the age of thirty-two, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Alone and frightened, I opened up to my friends and church community about my diagnosis not long after surgery. I was overwhelmed by the great outpouring of support through meals, visits, prayers, child care, and acts of love. My friends and family laid down their lives for me by surrendering their fears to visit me and entering into my pain to comfort me with their love.

During this dark time, I prayed to Mary daily and begged her to ask Jesus to heal me. Blessed Mary was my strength; she was there to help me when I was alone and afraid.

Mary held me when I cried, soothed my fears and sorrows, and invited me to surrender my cross moments to her. She will do the same for you.

— Dr. Barb Jarvis Pauls

HOW CAN I SURRENDER my fears of reaching out to others today and be present like Mother Mary? Is there someone I know who needs a friend to inspire faith and give reassurance of God’s abiding love?

Prayer: Holy Mary, Mother of God, thank you for all the ways you have been my friend and confidante. Help me to open up and surrender to the faith and love that you share in Jesus, your Son.

March 5

“Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted / … / for there will be no shame for those who trust in you.” — Daniel 3:39-40*

In our business-as-usual reactive mode, it is often difficult for us to be contrite and humble, much less forgiving. Mary’s life inspires us to prayerfully reflect upon things before we act or react. In times of difficulties and great challenges, Mary prayerfully surrendered the events in her life over to the Lord. In this responsive mode, she was able to fulfill God’s plan for her.

Surrender is a choice we make of our own free will and with God’s grace. With Mary’s help, we can prayerfully surrender our anger, our desire for control, and our need for security over to the Lord. When we do, we grow in our spiritual life.

— John Holmes

CHOOSE A TIME TODAY, even if only for five minutes, to sit quietly with God. Prayerfully ponder the following: What are the one or two major blocks to God’s grace in your life? Pray to let go of those obstacles so that you can become more receptive to God’s grace.

Prayer: Dearest Mother Mary, continue to lead me to your Son and help me to be in a better position to do what God calls me to do.

* Some texts identify this passage as part of “The Prayer of Azariah in the Furnace” (vv. 16-17) within Daniel 3.

March 6

“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; / we are the clay, and you are our potter; / we are all the work of your hand.” — Isaiah 64:8

It is startling to learn how deeply we have been living in delusion, or to come face to face with the realization of how we have not been relying on God, really.

My twenty-year-old son had never had any health issues more serious than a pitching injury during high school baseball. On a recent study-abroad program, he had trouble breathing and Italian doctors found a large tumor in his sinus and cranial cavity. The life that we knew, his and mine, immediately came to a screeching halt. There had been absolutely no warning signs of a detour ahead. After a twelve-hour operation, six weeks of recovery, and daily radiation for six-plus weeks, they found more cancer. Now more radiation is scheduled. Daily, I ask God, “Where are you?”

— Betty Crane

IN MOMENTS OF DESPAIR, I think of Mary at the foot of Jesus’ cross, looking up at his brutalized, crucified body. What were her thoughts? How was she able to surrender to the Crucifixion? In the darkness, let us cling to Mary for help in surrendering to our heavenly Father.

Prayer: Mary, help me learn to surrender to God’s plan for me and for those I love just as you surrendered your life to your heavenly Father. Help me to accept how God shapes my life and my heart.

March 7

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15

Mary’s decision to serve God came in the form of her unconditional yes, her willingness not only to bear Jesus, the Son of God, but to raise him and accompany him through life. As his mother, Mary freely and completely devoted herself to this divine calling. When Jesus grew up and took on public ministry, Mary continued to offer her life in supporting Jesus as he healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and offered mercy to those in need.

Today’s families come in all shapes and sizes, and not everyone’s household is in perfect order; yet Mary’s life gives us hope. Mary invites us to follow in her steps as we place God at the center of our family life. Then we and our house will be able to serve the Lord.

— Lauren Nelson

CONSIDER YOUR OWN FAMILY. What could you surrender so that you and your household could better serve God? What does serving the Lord look like in your particular family?

Prayer: Mary, help me to surrender my heart and the lives of all those that I love over to the Lord, so that our house may love and serve God all the days of our lives.

March 8

“This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” — John 17:3

There is a Navajo tale that tells of a warrior who searched for God. Seeing God on a mountaintop, the scout rode up and dismounted. He took three arrows and held them high above his head, then placed the arrows at God’s feet. God waved the scout away.

The scout returned to his horse, took the woven blanket, held it high above his head, and laid it at God’s feet. God waved the scout away. Then the scout took his most prized possession; he led his horse to God, and placed the reins in God’s hands. God waived the scout away. The scout extended his arms toward God and dropped to his knees. God looked at the scout and smiled. The warrior realized he could not negotiate a relationship with God on his terms. He must surrender all.

Mary made a total surrender to God. She held nothing back. She did not negotiate. All she was and had she handed over to God to do as he pleased. Surrender brought her freedom, and surrender can bring freedom to us as well.

— Joseph Abel, PhD

WHAT DO YOU CLING TO? How can you surrender it to God today?

Prayer: Mary, your life shows us the way of surrender. May we follow that path and come to true freedom.

March 9

“And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.’” — Mark 8:34-35

To those of us who want to follow Christ, the challenge is clear. Denying ourselves and taking up our crosses is an act of surrender. We surrender our desire for security, affection, and, most of all, control. We surrender those ego drivers we think are so important. Mary did this from the outset. She surrendered in perfect trust to God’s will for her.

When our crosses seem more than we can bear, we can turn to Mother Mary, who can help us find the courage to surrender our lives to God. When we surrender our crosses, we gain the strength to carry them, and a better perspective on bearing the trials in our lives.

— John Holmes

WHAT CROSS ARE YOU CARRYING at the moment? Ask Mary’s help in placing this matter into the hands of our loving Lord.

Prayer: Holy Mother, thank you for your example of trusting in the Lord. Help me to surrender all that I have in the hopes of gaining eternal life.

March 10

“How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God.” — Mark 10:23

How much value do we place on objects? Do we cling to the things of this world, giving them power over ourselves, or our relationships with family and friends? This Gospel passage challenges us to think of everything relative to eternal life. This is what our Blessed Mother did. Because she kept everything in proper perspective, she was able to surrender everything about her earthly life for the sake of what was eternal.

When Mother Mary fled to Elizabeth, with Jesus conceived in her womb, she surrendered everything, even that which was not material possessions, for the love of God. Mary surrendered her fear of being judged, her safety, her reputation, and her attachment to her community. She surrendered her will to the will of God.

— Dr. Barb Jarvis Pauls

WHAT DO YOU VALUE most in life? How important is your relationship with the Lord? Are you willing to surrender your pride, your prejudices, and your possessions as you carry on your mission in the world?

Prayer: Mother Mary, pray for us to be generous and self-giving, surrendering our giftedness for the greater good of all who need us.

March 11

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, / and do not rely on your own insight.” — Proverbs 3:5

Is there a greater example of trusting in the Lord than Mary, a young girl from Nazareth? Although we are people of faith, we often feel we know what’s best for us. We pray for a certain outcome and even get upset if our prayers are not answered to our liking.

Mary’s life invites us to keep the prayer of surrender at the forefront of our hearts. Mary did not stand before the angel Gabriel and say, “I’m not sure how this is going to work.” Mary simply surrendered her free will and trusted that God would make her path straight. God put his plan of salvation into Mary’s hands, and Mary put her whole life into the hands of God.

— Lauren Nelson

CALL TO MIND a particular situation or event that you have not yet totally surrendered over to the Lord. Ask Mary to help you trust that God will make your path straight as he did hers.

Prayer: Mary, help me to surrender my life over to the Lord as you did. Be with me as I walk the path that God sets forth before me.

March 12

“When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’” — John 2:3

Mary is an inspiration for all of us, especially when we run out of wine. When life is difficult and we are depleted, we can learn from Mary’s unwavering faith in Jesus. This is not always easy, because we like to be in control. We like to tell God what to do. We bring God our prayers and petitions, but most often we also give him a suggestion about how things should work out.

At the wedding feast at Cana, Mary simply stated the problem; she didn’t tell Jesus how he should solve it. Our Blessed Mother shows us how to place our complete trust in God, to live with the reality that the Lord knows what is best and that we can — and should — trust him. This calls us to cultivate a spirit of surrender, a willingness to let go of our own agendas and place our entire lives into the hands of our God, who fashioned us from the beginning.

— Dr. Mary Amore

GIVE ONE SITUATION in your life totally over to God. What can you do to avoid taking it back again?

Prayer: Mary, help me to have your faith. Teach me to trust in the Lord every moment of every day.

March 13

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” — Luke 1:38

From a worldly perspective, surrender can seem a lot like weakness. Whenever someone is giving up, we tend to see it as a failure. But surrendering to God is a completely different experience. It is anything but weakness and failure.

We see that Mary’s visit with the angel Gabriel begins with fear and concern. But because Mary had already resolved to be the handmaid of the Lord, she surrenders to God’s will. What comes from this surrender is nothing short of miraculous.

Surrendering to God is not an act of weakness. In fact, it is one of the most courageous things we can do. The world’s message is to depend on ourselves; but God’s continual message is to fear not and trust him. When we surrender our lives to the Lord, we can fully live in God’s peace and joy. Our lives are transformed when we surrender to God.

— Suzette Horyza

THINK OF SOMETHING you once surrendered to God. What did God do with what you entrusted to him?

Prayer: Mary, teach me how to surrender the things in my life, especially those I cannot change; help me to follow in your footsteps by doing the will of God.

March 14

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; / in him my heart trusts.” — Psalms 28:7

My friend asked me to be her confirmation sponsor. We met frequently to discuss faith topics that interested her. The year of preparation went well. It concluded with a powerful retreat experience. When confirmation was two weeks away, we decided to go shopping for her dress. In between trying on dresses, she asked me, “Will God’s Spirit always be with me?”

I was beside myself. For months, we had talked endlessly about the presence of the Holy Spirit in her life. In that moment, I realized I had neglected to include Mary in our discussions. Like Mary, each one of us is asked to surrender to the Holy Spirit. I invited her to be open to the new life God was calling her to, like Mary was so long ago.

— Sharon A. Abel, PhD

BE SILENT. Close your eyes and surrender to the Spirit.

Prayer: Mary, help me surrender to the Spirit and let God’s grace flow in my mind. Show me how surrender to the Spirit can be my dawn. Lord, send a gentle breeze of graces flowing by. Stir within my mind your vision for my life. Lord, set a flame in me to light my darkened way. Gently guide my steps down pathways left unknown.

March 15

“‘My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” — John 2:4-5

As children, our mothers can seem infallible. As we mature, we grow to understand that our mothers are just people, too, who need the same love and devotion they are called to give us.

At the wedding feast at Cana, we see a pivotal reversal of roles. The giving and benevolent mother now makes a request from her Son. Jesus fulfills his mother’s request in the first miracle of his public ministry by changing water into wine. Just as Mary surrendered her will to the Lord years before, Jesus now surrenders himself to the request of his mother. All flows from mutual love and trust.

Perhaps we did not all grow up with a loving mother, or even an image of a perfect mother, but most of us can probably recall a person who was always there for us; someone who surrendered himself or herself to be there for us. In this person, we see a glimpse of our mother, Mary.

— Dr. Mary Amore

REMEMBER A PERSON who surrendered to you. Now, recall a time you surrendered to someone else.

Prayer: Mary, help soften our hearts, and guide us toward the love you shared with your Son, Jesus.

March 16

“Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” — Jeremiah 18:6

Mary is the perfect example of clay in the hands of the potter. Mary allowed God to shape and form her life into what God desired her to be. She trusted that the Lord would gently mold her to perfection.

Even as her beloved Son hung on the cross, Mary accepted whatever she encountered as another movement of the potter’s hands. She trusted that, just as the potter reveals the beauty of his creations, the beauty of her life would be revealed in God’s handiwork.

We, too, are clay in the hands of our divine potter, and we are being shaped and molded by God. In this divine process of creation we are invited to bend to God’s will as the Lord makes of us what he intends. In the end, the beauty of our lives as fashioned by the hands of our creator will be revealed, just as it was in Mary’s life.

— Lauren Nelson

HOW IS THE LORD fashioning your life? In what ways can you surrender to the creative forces of God?

Prayer: Mary, your life inspires me to be a moldable piece of clay in the hands of Our Lord. Guide me in surrendering my life to God, that I may become his divine creation.

March 17

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

Here, the Lord is asking us to surrender our problems into his loving care. He wants us to let go of our desire to control the people and events of our lives and trust in him. This is a difficult task for many people.

Mary’s life shows us the pathway to spiritual surrender. As the mother of our Savior, Mary lovingly let go of Jesus when it came time for him to leave her and follow his call to preach, heal, and evangelize. She also surrendered the unspeakable pain of her broken heart as she stood beneath the cross as Jesus gave his life so that we could live with him forever.

So much of what we experience every day can be lifted off of our shoulders simply by giving it to the Lord. We can follow Mary’s example and prayerfully surrender our joys and sorrows to the Lord and find rest in his loving arms.

— Dr. Barb Jarvis Pauls

WHAT BURDENS can I hand over to the Lord this day? What joys can I give to God?

Prayer: Mother Mary, help me to trust in the workings of the Lord, that I may have the strength to surrender both the problems and joys of my life into the hands of our loving God.

March 18

“I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” — Romans 12:1-2

Paul appealed to his fellow disciples to surrender their bodies as a living sacrifice. This models Christ’s sacrificial surrender to death on the cross. Warning believers not to conform to the age, Paul encourages us to renew our minds. Once that happens, we can discern the will of God for us.

Again, we have Mary as an example, giving her all in cooperation with the Holy Spirit to become the mother of our Lord and Savior. While God’s will for Mary seems quite straightforward to us, she needed to surrender first in order to see with a renewed mind. Mary gave God her body. Her surrender filled her with grace, the grace necessary to become the Mother of God.

— John Holmes

WHAT RENEWS YOUR MIND? How are you called to offer God your body as a “living sacrifice”?

Prayer: O Virgin Mary, thank you for your surrender and your response to your calling! Help me to be open to a change in my heart and mind.

March 19

“You heard me say to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.” — John 14:28

Being separated from the people we love hurts. Separation can be experienced through death, a loved one moving far away, a conflict in a relationship with a close friend, a divorce, a loss of employment and colleagues, and more. In times like these examples, I have often sought solace in the arms of our Blessed Mother. Mary knows what we are feeling when we are separated from the ones we love. As Joseph’s wife and the mother of Jesus, Mary experienced more than her share of suffering and hardship, and she coped with these events by surrendering her life over to the Lord.

— Dr. Barb Jarvis Pauls

IDENTIFY TIMES IN YOUR LIFE when you have suffered a painful separation from someone or something you loved deeply. Prayerfully invite our mother, Mary, to share your pain and to help you find the courage to give this event over to the Lord.

Prayer: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us as we surrender our losses, our loves, and the painful experience of letting go. We trust in your comfort and hope for your grace in our midst.

March 20

“When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” — John 19:26-27

Women had no voice in first-century Palestine. Their well-being was dependent upon the men in their family who took care of them. St. John tells us that as Jesus hung on the cross his last thoughts were about his mother. In this poignant moment of self-emptying and self-gift, Mary bravely accepted that her Son, Jesus, was about to die. She also accepted the beloved disciple as her son. This could not have been easy. At this same moment in salvation history, God gave all of us to Mary, too. Mary became our mother, the mother of all who follow Jesus.

Mary’s example challenges us to be faithful to God even in the midst of tragedy. With Mary as our heavenly mother, we are never alone to face the perils of life.

— Lauren Nelson

PLACE YOURSELF at the foot of the cross. Consider one way you can welcome Mary into your heart today.

Prayer: Mary, come close to my heart. Be a mother to me; help me to honor you each day.

March 21

“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” — Galatians 2:20

So many people have a hard time with the topic of surrender. They can’t imagine giving themselves up. Who will I be if I give myself over?

Early on in my marriage I struggled with a gripping addiction. Eventually, I had to make a choice between getting help or losing my family. One night I said to God: “Okay, I’ve been doing this my way, and it’s not working. I need your help.” The moment I surrendered, I started on the road to recovery.

I’m sure that when Mary’s pregnancy began, she had no idea what life would be like. But she knew that she was giving her life over to a loving God. I found out that God has goodness in store. The life of Christ enters us — as it did literally with Mary — and becomes our new identity.

— Christine Grano

WHAT IS GOD ASKING YOU to give over, to surrender to? Can you surrender into the loving arms of God as Mary did?

Prayer: Mary, thank you for your perfect example of surrender. Pray for me that I may do the same.

March 22

“Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” — Philippians 2:5-8

Paul instructs us to adopt the same attitude Jesus had. This attitude, which is ours in Christ, recognizes the role our ego plays. It warns us that if our egos rule, we are likely not to see God’s plan or will for us. We must empty ourselves of our selves.

Mary clearly had this attitude of self-surrender and embraced the art of self-emptying. How else could she possibly have had the courage to willingly surrender her life over to the Lord? What can we do to model this? Let us seek our Blessed Mother’s assistance in letting go of our egos and the desire to control, so that we may pattern our lives after Mary’s, and become obedient to the Father.

— John Holmes

FROM WHAT do you need detachment? In what ways might you consider self-emptying?

Prayer: Mother Mary, help me let go of attachments. With your help and God’s grace may I adopt the attitude of your Son.

March 23

“When the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it.” — Luke 2:43

Where was Jesus? Mary wondered and worried for three days as she and Joseph wandered in search of their twelve-year-old Son. The distress Mary felt shows in her words: “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously” (Lk 2:48).

Like Mary, we can be overwrought in the face of unknowing, ambiguity, and distress. For most of us, being thrust into the unknown, the space of uncertainty, is difficult and frightening. As a human being, Mary must certainly have experienced the feelings of upset, worry, and distress when Jesus was missing. That shared human experience is why Mary can hear our prayers compassionately. But Mary knew that even in the unknown God was with her. That reality gave her the courage to surrender to him.

— Dr. Barb Jarvis Pauls

WHAT ARE YOU ANXIOUS or distressed about today? What are the uncertainties you are facing in your life? Ask Mary to help you find Jesus in the midst of them.

Prayer: Holy Mary, help us surrender with faith and trust in God’s presence, even when we lose sight of him.

March 24

“I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13

Mary became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit at a young age, and was told by the angel Gabriel that her childless cousin Elizabeth was also pregnant. Shortly after the birth of Jesus, Mary presented him at the Temple. There Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce her heart. How did young Mary make sense of these miraculous proclamations in her life?

Mary didn’t know everything the future held. It was Mary’s great faith that enabled her to surrender her life to God without seeking an explanation. She drew strength from knowing that God can accomplish all things.

Our lives are full of people and events we just don’t understand. Many of us seek solutions and explanations in order to gain a sense of control. Instead, we are called to model Mary’s life of trust, which invites us to surrender all into the hands of the Lord.

— Lauren Nelson

CALL TO MIND one situation in your life that is beyond your knowledge or understanding. Seek Mary’s help to strengthen your faith so that you have the courage to surrender this to God.

Prayer: Mary, help me to accept all the mysteries of my life and be with me as I surrender them to the Lord.

March 25

Solemnity of the Annunciation

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, / and shall call his name Emmanuel / (which means, God with us).” — Matthew 1:23

Mary was a young virgin when the angel Gabriel came to announce that she would bear a son. Upon hearing this news, Mary’s only question was, “How can this be?” She didn’t interrogate or try to bargain with the angel about what was to take place. Mary simply surrendered her life to the power of the Holy Spirit. Knowing that he was with her, she chose to be with him.

The Annunciation has much to teach us about living in this wounded and broken world. No matter how bleak things appear or how violent the world becomes, God is with us today and always. The Lord did not abandon his people of long ago, and he will not abandon us. As Christians, our call is to follow God as Mary did, and surrender our pressing agendas, our movements, and our fears over to the Lord, trusting that he is with us.

— Dr. Mary Amore

CONSIDER THE WAYS that your life reflects the reality that “God is with us.”

Prayer: Mary, help me to have the courage to live each day with the knowledge that God is with us and that I am never alone to face my fears.

March 26

“You call me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.’” — John 13:13-14

Jesus surrenders in action. He recognizes his relationship with his disciples, but steps out of the role of Lord and teacher to one of servant. This very humble act is an image of surrender.

Mary was always the humble servant; often, simply by being present. She never made things about herself, but always about others, and always focused on Jesus. From the Annunciation, to the wedding in Cana, to her presence at the foot of her Son’s cross, Mary was there as a servant. She was always prepared to surrender herself for others.

— John Holmes

HOW CAN YOU put yourself in service to others?

Prayer: Mother Mary, thank you for your service and your example of service in community. Help me to follow you and your Son in the same way.

March 27

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9