Today we remember the young girl who was visited by the Angel Gabriel and who responded with a firm yes when asked if she would give birth to The Son of God. We need to remember that Jewish girls were educated as much as Jewish boys, because they were the teachers of the next generation and were required to teach reading, writing and maths to a level when boys at the age of 13 would then go to their local rabbi to be trained in the Hebrew Bible.

So Mary wasn’t ignorant when she said yes to Gabriel. Like many of us she could not predict what the future would hold. There would be ups but there would be plenty of downs culminating for Mary having to stand and watch her son, God’s son, being executed on a cross just outside Jerusalem on that first Good Friday.

Saying yes to God does not mean that life is going to be wonderful and one full of happiness. Rather saying yes to God means that whatever we face, whether good or bad, we will never face it alone and like Jesus even when we feel that God has deserted us he will still be with us, supporting us to the end.

Let us join with Mary in saying,

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.”

Let us recommit ourselves to be God’s servants as we go from here to bring love, compassion and care to all people, whoever they may be.