From today’s Scripture: “And Mary said: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.’” —Lk 1:46-48

Truly, have more beautiful words ever been written? Some tend to point out the risks brought on Mary by Gabriel’s message. She could be killed, shunned, put out by Joseph. But what is Mary’s response? It is one of praise to God and to see God’s act as an act of redemption, not burden. In fact, we get little to suggest that Mary second guessed God’s invitation to carry and mother the Christ child. How can this be?

Perhaps it is because Mary set her gaze upon the Lord, always contemplating the words of God in her heart. From this stillness she speaks, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” This stillness, this contemplation so lost on our busy world today, is the dwelling place of God. The place in which Elijah heard God’s voice. The quiet desert wanderings of Moses before stumbling upon God in the bush. Christ’s seeming desire to escape to quiet places. It is not simply in the quiet, but in the presence of God, that Mary responds with rejoicing in the God who saves.

Let us pray: Father, you who are with us always, even as close as our heart is to our chest, grant that we might always trust you and listen for you in the quiet of contemplation.

Today’s author is Nathan Smith, the director of ecumenism for Glenmary and consultant for the U.S. Catholic bishops.

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