Luke 1:35,38 (Mary's "yes") by Jeff Grabosky

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (website, Facebook).

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. Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." ~ Luke 1:35,38 (full readings)

Jeff’s Reflections: On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us recognize the wonderful example Mary set for all of us. Our Lady was completely open to the Lord's plan for her, just as this passage reveals. I am sure before the angel Gabriel appeared to her, Mary had dreams of what her life would be like. The angel's message was an incredible change of plans to whatever ideas she may have had in mind. However, instead of brushing it off because it was not what she envisioned or treating it as an inconvenience to her plans, Mary so graciously offered her life to the glorious plan of the Lord. By saying yes to a life inside of her, the course of Mary's life was eternally changed. She became not only the Mother of Jesus Christ, but also a spiritual mother to all humanity. Let us learn from Mary's example and answer the call in our own lives. God has great plans for each and every one of us. Our own lives have the potential to have a profound effect on the lives around us. For women, that extends to the miracle of having life within them. In imitating Mary, let us say yes to the Lord and yes to all life.
* Jeff Grabosky works at a Catholic middle school as well as a specialty running store in Phoenix, Arizona. He is writing a book about his transcontinental run which he undertook to encourage prayer in America and around the world.

Faith Challenge: Take time in prayer today to listen to God. If you feel led in a specific direction, say yes to the Lord with your whole heart just like Mary did.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, Vatican, AFA, Priests for Life, Live Action

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed & Patron Saint. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.

Feast Day: Immaculate Conception of Mary.

Faith Quote: "Obedience is a virtue of so excellent a nature, that Our Lord was pleased to mark its observance upon the whole course of His life; thus He often says He did not come to do His Own will, but that of His Heavenly Father. --Saint Francis De Sales

Through Christ our Lord,
Jeff
1 Cor 9:24

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from whatever separates you from God. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (23% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Mt 28:19.