Luke 1:38 gives us one of the most astonishing sentences in all of Scripture. Mary’s quiet, courageous response to the angel: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”
It is a sentence shaped by an interior posture, an orientation of heart that does not waver. Mary does question how this can be, she is human, thoughtful, awake, but she does not question God. Her trust is not naïve; it is rooted. It is the kind of trust that stands firm even when the ground beneath her shifts.
Mary’s yes is not a moment of emotional certainty. It is a lifelong stance. A way of leaning her whole being toward God. A willingness to let God’s word take shape in her, even when she couldn’t see where it led. This is the unshakable trust Psalm 125 sings of the trust that cannot be toppled by fear, confusion, or the unknown.
In a world blown about by anxiety, outrage, distraction, and self‑protection, Mary’s yes becomes a beacon. Her steadiness is not loud. It is not triumphant. It is simply faithful. She attaches herself to God with a trust that does not slip, a grounding that cannot be shaken.
And this is the invitation for us today.
To let our own hearts take on Mary’s orientation. To allow trust to become our posture rather than our occasional prayer. To say our own version of “may it be done to me according to your word” in the places where we feel stretched, uncertain, or afraid.
The world needs this kind of trust—quiet, rooted, courageous.
A trust that does not depend on circumstances.
A trust that steadies us when everything else feels fragile.
A trust that attaches us to God with a center that cannot be shaken.
May Mary’s yes echo in us. May her orientation become our own. May her trust magnify the Lord in a world longing for steadiness, hope, and holy courage. May this trust be a beacon for our life. Let it be so. Amen
Smitten With Goodness 