Mary’s words “Here I am,” the key phrase for life

Mankind, at the origin, says no to God, and in the Gospel there is Mary who, at the Annunciation, says yes to God. In both readings it is God who seeks mankind. But in the first case God goes to Adam, after the sin, and asks him: “Where are you?” (Gen 3:9), and Adam responds: “I hid myself” (v. 10). In the second case, however, God goes to Mary, without sin, who responds: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38). Here I am is the opposite of I hid myself. Here I am opens one up to God, while sin closes, isolates, and causes one to be alone with oneself.

Here I am is the key phrase for life. It marks the passage from a horizontal life, centered on oneself and one’s own needs, to a vertical life, ascending towards God. Here I am is being available to the Lord; it is the cure for selfishness, the antidote to a dissatisfied life, which is always lacking something. Here I am is the remedy against the aging of sin; it is the therapy for staying young within. Here I am is believing that God counts more than my ‘me.’ It is choosing to bet on the Lord, docile to his surprises. This is why saying here I am to him is the highest praise we can offer him. Why not begin our days with a ‘here I am, Lord’? It would be beautiful to say each morning: “Here I am, Lord, today let your will be done in me.” We will say it in praying the Angelus, but we can repeat it now, together. Here I am, Lord, today let your will be done in me!

Mary adds: “Let it be to me according to your word.” She does not say “let it be done as I want,” but “as You will.” She does not place any limitations on God. She does not think: “I will dedicate myself partly to him, I will deal with it and then I will do what I want.” No, Mary does not love the Lord when she feels like it, off and on. She lives by entrusting herself to God in all things and for all things. This is the secret of life.

Pope Francis

Angelus of December 8, 2018