HomeIgnatian PrayerMary, You Show Me the Way

Mary, You Show Me the Way

"The Annunciation" by James TissotMary, in the midst of your life, you heard your call. In hearing it, you were told, “Do not be afraid.” (Luke 1:30) In the busyness of your life, God offered you an invitation. On one ordinary evening, you were able to say “yes.”

What about me, Mary? Will I be able to hear God’s call in the midst of my life? Will God utter the same words of comfort delivered through another that the angel offered you? Will I be able to discern God’s voice from all the others offering me invitations? Will I be able to say “yes” to God’s invitation when it appears in the middle of my ordinary life?

Somehow your heart was tuned to the voice of God. Somehow the Holy Spirit enabled you to hear and say “yes” to what God put before you. While I do not understand it all, I do know that your ability to hear God through the angel Gabriel helps me know that I will be able to hear God speaking to me in the middle of my life. Your ability to say “yes” to something that frightened you at first helps me, too, say “yes” to the invitations God puts in my life that frighten me. You show me the way, Mary, to hear God’s voice, to overcome my fears, and to do God’s will.

In this season of Advent, when we celebrate your ability to hear God’s invitation and respond positively, I ask that you pray for us. Pray that we, too, may have hearts tuned to God’s voice. Pray that we might be comforted the way the angel Gabriel comforted you. Pray that we, too, can respond to God’s invitations in our lives so that we might continue to bring light into the world the way you did by offering us the greatest light, Jesus. Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Image: James Tissot, “The Annunciation,” opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper.

Becky Eldredge
Becky Eldredgehttp://beckyeldredge.com/
Becky Eldredge is a writer and spiritual director in Baton Rouge, LA. The author of Busy Lives & Restless Souls and The Inner Chapel, Becky holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Education from Louisiana State University and a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University New Orleans. She has her Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Spring Hill College. Becky has been involved in ministry for more than 15 years, with the majority of her work in retreat ministry and adult faith formation. While ministry is one of her passions, her greatest joy is sharing life with her husband, Chris, and her children, Brady, Abby, and Mary.

13 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you for your reflection, Becky, about saying “Yes”, and not being afraid to follow God’s invitation. (I am also a graduate of Spring Hill College – 1975)

  2. Thanks Becky for this insightful reflection. Timely message that is so needed in our world today .May our Blessed Mother be our guide, our comfort and consolation, in these turbulent times.
    Blessings
    Dr. Maxine Lee-Fatt (Spiritual Director)

  3. Good to see you contributing to this Advent program…Using it in my parish in Sarasota Fl for folks during Advent. I do see the occasional update on you and your family…Continued blessings to you in your ministry!

  4. Thank you Becky, always SPOT ON, with your Reflections. A wonderful gift from God. Long may you keep writing.God’s Blessings on you and your family.

  5. What an example Mary is to us. She trusted and had faith in the message from God. In that time and culture her example was beyond words. Then we can say God’s message did not include fear and the Holy Spirit was real.

  6. Reflection was v meaningful. This evening I carried the figure of Mary to the crib. At the sac of reconciliation this evening I my penence was to pray the the Magnificat. The Lord has done great things for me

  7. I appreciate your insightful and inspiring writing. Also pleased to see your association with my alma mater Spring Hill College.

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