I wondered what Mary may have been thinking and feeling when the Angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced that she will bear the Son of God. The gospel tells us that she was “greatly troubled.” Perhaps, at that moment, she experienced a rush of conflicting emotions and thoughts on how to make sense of the heavenly phenomenon that was before her.

On a personal note, I like being in control. I am comfortable when things happen the way I envisioned them. I am at ease when things go as planned. But when an unforeseen event happens, I usually feel anxious, tense, and worried.

Mary, on the other hand, dealt with this in a very prayerful and submissive way. Perhaps, as a young maiden, she already had plans for what her life would be like in the next ten to twenty years. But when the annunciation was made, she relinquished control, let go of whatever plans she had made and submitted herself to the will of the Most High.

This is an invitation for me to emulate the prayerfully submissive disposition of Mary when facing situations that are beyond my control. It also allowed me to realize that my task as a Christian is to cooperate with the will of God and “do whatever He tells me” (cf. Jn 2:5).

Today, as we celebrate the Queenship of Mary, let us pray for the grace that like her, we may glorify God by our submission to His great plan and full cooperation allowing Him to “continue the work He has begun in us.”

By: Sem. John Paul T. Toting

Today’s Gospel

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.