“#Since” today’s Gospel (Luke 1:26–38) invites me to reflect on Mary’s “yes” to God with “a holy longing to do His will”, how does “On Care for our Common Home” challenge me to embrace an integrated vision of creation—acknowledging, as Benedict XVI observed, that “the book of nature is one and indivisible,” encompassing the environment, life, and social relations—even amid the shortest days and longest nights of my own uncertainty and doubt, as I cry out, “O Key of David, come and lead us”❓
In the sixth month,
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.
This question invites me to reflect on how faith calls me to align my life with God’s will. Since Mary’s response to Gabriel in today’s Gospel (Luke 1:26–38) reflects “a holy longing to do God’s will”, her question, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man❓” reveals awe and a desire to understand her role in God’s plan. In contrast, I often use the word “since” not to seek understanding but to rationalize inaction or excuse myself from doing what God asks of me—much like Ahaz in today’s first reading (Isaiah 7:10–14), who resisted trusting in God’s promise.
“Since” On Care for Our Common Home reminds me that the book of nature is “one and indivisible,” encompassing all aspects of life—environment, relationships, and faith—it challenges me to stop making excuses. I cannot compartmentalize my responsibilities or use “since” to avoid acting in service to creation or my neighbor. Instead, I must strive to respond with trust and openness, as Mary did, allowing God’s grace to guide my actions.
Jim: Oh, I don’t know. Play chess… screw…
Bart: [quickly] Well, let’s play chess.
“Since” the shortest days and longest nights often feel like a reflection of my inner struggles, this season invites me to wait in hope and long for God to act through me. But I know that hope demands my cooperation. Just as Mary’s “yes” allowed the Key of David to unlock the door to salvation, I must also say “yes” to God’s call, even when my own rationalizations tempt me to resist by asking:
My predecessor Benedict XVI…observed that the world cannot be analyzed by isolating only one of its aspects, since “the book of nature is one and indivisible”, and includes the environment, life, sexuality, the family, social relations, and so forth.
From paragraph 6 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME