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the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Sometimes these critical choices involve some
risk, and some measure of sacrifice when it takes courage to choose the more difficult op-
tion. To complicate matters, there often isn’t a right or wrong answer. Instead of asking
ourselves if something is the right or wrong choice, we might ask questions like: “Will this
choice draw me closer to or lead me further away from God?” and “Will this choice help
me to be the best I can be, the person that God intends me to be?”.
We are able to celebrate the incarnation of Jesus not only because of God’s great love for
us, but also because the faith of a young girl was so strong that she was able to say “yes” to
bearing God’s Son, God’s wondrous gift to humankind, even though the prospect must have
terrified her. In allowing herself to be completely open to God’s call, Mary has modeled for
us how to make choices which are both terrifying and wondrous in our own lives. And it is
by making those terrifying and wondrous choices that we become most fully ourselves, most
fully the person that God intends us to be.
Prayer
Mary, Mother of Jesus, help me to open myself to God’s will with the same trust and love
that you showed. Help me to make God the center of my life, so that in all things I am re-
sponding to his will. I ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
Cambria Tortorelli
Parish Life Director