“‘God is with us!’” In the three readings and responsorial psalm God reveals His desire for us to be close to Him. We are to respond “Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.” Jesus is the one who allows us to form a more intimate relationship with God. By becoming incarnate He participates in our humanity and serves as the ultimate sacrifice and offering. Jesus responds to God’s word as in the second reading He claims “‘Behold, I come to do your will, O God.’”

Mary provides another powerful example of what it means to respond to God’s will. Mary said yes to becoming the mother of God, and in doing so she exemplified a perfect faith in God. Luke’s Gospel depicts Mary confidently responding “‘May it be done to me according to your word.’”

Oftentimes, I experience fear and uncertainty concerning the direction that my life is going. I can only imagine how Mary must have felt when God called her to bear His son! I often struggle to see how God is working through my daily decisions and actions. I feel uncertain about the future and what I am meant to do with the rest of my life. At these times I become impatient; I want to know now! In today’s society we are immersed in a culture that expects and often grants a “quick fix” to our problems. With the use of technology we can communicate over much greater distances and at a more rapid pace than ever before. If we want to know the answer to a question we can simply “Google” a response, text, or call someone’s cell phone; waiting is no longer a must. I often try to apply society’s standards to God. I fail to recognize that God exists outside of human time and space. He is ever-present, and yet He does not always provide the response that I want when I want it. I must be patient and willing to respond to Him.