Journeying With Christ: The Coptic Month of Kiahk of the Nativity Fastናሙና

Week 2 Theme: The Annunciation to St. Mary

Day 2: St. Mary's Fiat: Let It Be Done

In our journey with Christ, we often find ourselves at crossroads, faced with decisions and choices that shape our lives. St. Mary's encounter with Archangel Gabriel during the Annunciation is a profound example of embracing God's will with humility and surrender. Today, as we reflect on St. Mary's fiat, her response of "Let it be done to me according to your word," let us explore the power of surrendering to God's will and the transformative impact it can have on our lives.

When Archangel Gabriel appeared to St. Mary, he delivered astonishing news. She, a young and humble girl, was chosen to bear the Son of God. It was an invitation to participate in God's divine plan of salvation. Despite the weight of this message, St. Mary's response was filled with humility and trust and she didn't hesitate to surrender herself to God's will, offering her whole being to His purposes.

St. Cyril of Alexandria, an Early Church Father, emphasizes St. Mary's obedience as an example for all believers: "How honored and magnified is mankind through the Holy Virgin Mother of God, for it has been made worthy of renewal and sonship by God; She herself was made worthy by her immeasurable humility and exceedingly great purity and holiness to be the Mother of the God-man!" St. Mary's fiat wasn't just an act of obedience; it was an act of profound faith and trust. She understood that God's plans are perfect, even when they surpass our understanding.

St. Mary's fiat teaches us that surrendering to God's will involves both humility and trust. It requires setting aside our own desires and embracing God's greater purpose for our lives. It means recognizing that His ways are higher than ours and His plans are filled with grace and goodness. When we surrender, we acknowledge that we are not in control, but we place our trust in the One who knows what is best for us. What a scene St. Irenaeus of Lyon illustrates this point when he says, “For just as [Eve] was led astray by the word of an angel, so that she fled from God when she had transgressed His word; so did [Mary], by an angelic communication, receive the glad tidings that she should sustain God, being obedient to His word. And if the former did disobey God, yet the latter was persuaded to be obedient to God, in order that the Virgin Mary might become the patroness of the virgin Eve”

Surrendering to God's will doesn't mean that life will always be easy or without challenges. St. Mary herself faced numerous trials and uncertainties throughout her journey, yet, her willingness to surrender allowed God's grace to work in and through her. Through her obedience, she became the vessel through which God's salvation entered the world.

As we journey with Christ, we encounter moments when our own plans may collide with God's will, and in those moments, may we echo St. Mary's fiat, trusting that God's plans are far greater than our own. Let us remember that surrendering to His will opens the door for His grace to transform our lives and the lives of those around us.

St. Athanasius the Apostolic reminds us that “it is we who were the cause of His taking human form, and for our salvation that in His great love He was both born and manifested in a human body." Through St. Mary's fiat, she became the vessel through which God's divine plan unfolded and in a similar way, when we surrender to God's will, we allow Him to work in and through us, transforming us into the image of Christ. When we surrender, we open ourselves to the limitless possibilities that come from aligning our lives with God's purposes.

As we reflect on St. Mary's fiat, let us embrace the beauty of surrendering to God's will. Let us trust in His faithfulness and sovereignty, even when we cannot fully comprehend His plans. May our journey with Christ be marked by a humble and willing heart, echoing the words of St. Mary, "Let it be done to me according to your word." In surrender, we find freedom, peace, and the fullness of life that comes from journeying with Christ.