Availability

Listening to the Spirit

Heavenly Father,

As we approach the celebration of Christmas, we come before You with hearts filled with gratitude for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In the story of His birth, we find a profound lesson on the virtue of availability.

We thank You for the example of Mary, who, in her humble availability, became the vessel through which Your divine plan was realized. Like her, help us to open our hearts to Your will and purpose for our lives.

Lord, we acknowledge that availability often requires us to step out of our comfort zones, embrace the unexpected, and trust in Your guidance. Just as Mary responded to the angel Gabriel's message with a resounding "yes," may we too have the courage to say "yes" to Your call, even when it seems challenging or beyond our understanding.

Lord, we pray for the grace to be open and receptive to Your promptings, to be available for acts of kindness, and to be instruments of Your peace during this Christmas season and beyond. May Your presence in our lives remind us of the power of availability and the transformative impact it can have on our world.

We ask all these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who was born in Bethlehem to bring salvation and redemption to all. Amen

Listening to the Word

Lk 1:26–38

The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Reflection

Today's Gospel passage from Luke 1:26–38 invites us to reflect on the virtue of availability, a virtue exemplified by the Blessed Virgin Mary in her response to the angel Gabriel's message. Mary's "Yes" to God's call serves as a profound example for all of us, illustrating the transformative power of a heart that is open and available to God's plan.

In this passage, we encounter Mary, a young and humble woman, living an ordinary life in Nazareth. She is approached by the angel Gabriel with a message that would change the course of history: she is to become the mother of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Mary's initial response is one of curiosity and wonder, but she soon demonstrates the virtue of availability when she says, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Mary's availability teaches us to be open and available to God's plan and mission, ready to embrace God's will, even when it seems challenging or beyond our understanding.

Mary's availability is a beautiful testament to her deep faith, trust, and willingness to surrender to God's will. Her " Yes " opens the door for the Incarnation—the moment when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Mary's availability allowed God's plan to unfold, bringing salvation to the world. Many times, we reject Mary's example because we feel that we don't have great talents and abilities. This passage reminds us that God does not look only at our abilities but also at our availability. Neal Maxwell correctly said, 'God does not begin by asking for our ability, only our availability, and if we prove our dependability, He will increase our ability.'

In our own lives, we may not receive angelic visits or be called to bear the Son of God, but we are constantly invited by God to be available to His will. We are called to say ‘Yes’ to God's plan, whether it be in our roles as priests, parents, spouses, friends, or members of our community. Our availability can bring Christ into the lives of others, just as Mary's availability brought Christ into the world.

Merry Christmas, everyone!