In the opening words of today’s gospel, Mary boldly proclaims the goodness and greatness of God. Despite the very unusual circumstances of her pregnancy, the news of which was shared by an angel, no less, Mary rejoices and feels “blessed” to have been chosen as the mother of Jesus. She is not overwhelmed by fear or panic. She is not paralyzed by inaction. Instead she is brimming with joy and gratitude.  Her reaction may appear surprising to some; especially, when viewed through a contemporary lens. How many of us are truly comfortable with uncertainty? Be it in our personal lives, in our own country’s politics, and the world. How do we navigate uncertainty and uncertain times with confidence, grace and gratitude?  

Mary’s immediate and heartfelt response to God’s call makes it clear that Mary had a deep, personal relationship with Him. While it’s likely that Mary was confused by God’s call, she also trusted that He would guide her and watch over her during this time of mystery and uncertainty. In that moment, Mary leaned into her relationship with God with full confidence that her faith in Him would sustain her. Uncertainty is something that most of us will experience at different times in our lives. While anxiety remains a normal response to things outside our control, we can also look to Mary as a reminder that if we remain open, we too, can experience the gift of a personal and intimate relationship with God.  

A truer and deeper relationship with God likely develops in the same way that any personal relationship does, slowly and through shared experiences. I assume that most of us do not place a great deal of trust in someone we have just met. We may be aloof, questioning and tentative, before opening up and sharing. Trust grows over time and it is our personal experience of the person that enables us to begin to trust that individual. I believe this is also is true in our relationship with God.

In these final days of Advent, as we look forward to spending time with family and friends, let us learn from the relationships that are closest and dearest to us. If God is not on that short list, what steps can we take in cultivating and nurturing our relationship with Him?