The Lord be with you all!

I just returned from Mass this evening - celebrating the Annunciation. It is a day that seems to focus us on the "will of God" in our lives. Mary is a model of faith. But as I was throwing a few thoughts around I began to think that as Mary is a model of faith so is the Son. In just two weeks we will be in Holy Week. As we reflect upon Jesus in his Agony in the Garden of Gethsemani we must not forget his prayer. Father, if it possible, let this cup pass. But not my will, your will be done. Put in another way, Jesus was praying that if it was at all possible, he didn't want to have to undergo the terrible passion and death. But not what I want but what the Father wants.

There you have it. A dovetailing of the prayers of the Mother and the Son. At the Annunciation Mary responds Let it be done to me as you will. In the Garden of Gethsemani Jesus prays not my will but yours. I never really looked at these two events in this manner. But it is a powerful lesson on being obedient to the will of God in our lives.

The will of God has been on my mind a great deal these last few months. I truly have been wrestling with the whole concept. The idea of being obedient to God's will has never been so concrete to me as in recent days, weeks and months. I keep murmuring, maybe more like muttering: God's will! God's will! God's will!

My reflections border on being serious, maybe even profound, and then I get a little light-hearted and smile at how God gets what he wants.

Well, these are good thoughts to take with us into the final weeks of Lent. Say the "Lord's Prayer" with thoughtfulness: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." On earth as it is in heaven - think about that for a moment - on earth as it is in heaven!

Make that your prayer and meditation.