Life can sometimes be full of uncertainty, especially when an important or significant event is taking place. For example, a woman who discovers that she is pregnant could be full of hope and doubt at the same time, since she would be concerned about things like whether the foetus would be able to be carried to term, whether the baby born would be healthy, and other concerns which may crop up. Some people would continue to place their hope and trust in God, knowing that He would take care of things. Others may begin to doubt whether God would help, and may turn to other forms of help, only to discover that these other forms are not really helping. As Christians, how do we handle such uncertain or doubtful situations?
In today’s Gospel, the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive and give birth to a son and his name would be Jesus. Certainly Mary would have been fearful of the consequence of having a child in this way, since she could be accused of adultery and stoned to death for becoming pregnant before marriage, as she was only betrothed and not yet married. But the angel assured her that God would take care of things and that nothing is impossible to God, since her kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month. When Mary heard these, she chose to have faith and trust in God and said: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.”
What about us? Are we willing to put our trust and faith in God, no matter how difficult or challenging the situation may seem? Would we let God take care of things and continue to do His will? May we, like Mary, remain courageous and confident, and do our best, and then leave it in the hands of the Lord.