Be not afraid... The Annunciation

Luke 1:38
Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” 

In the midst of fear

Swamped by powerful emotions

Mary,

who became mother of God

took courage in both hands

and offered:

Here I am

Mary acceded

not out of meekness

or naïveté 

but in boldness

and the fierceness

of love

On this day when we observe

the Annunciation

in the midst of pandemic

with fear all around

and emotions overwhelming

how can we offer our:

Here I am

Offering

not by repressing our fear

or denying our emotion

but, in the midst of those

dredging up a vestige

of faith

Faith that acknowledges

wherever we are

whoever we are

God’s invitation to us

is generous

and grace filled:

to be midwives of God 

for this day

In the midst of the trauma

in which we live

may we muster 

Courage

Boldness

Grace 

and

Fierce love

offering to God:

Here I am