Today’s Gospel, Luke 1: 26-38, is the Annunciation story. Once assured that her virginity will be left intact—she had vowed virginity to the Lord—Mary says “yes” to the angel, wholeheartedly, graciously, generously, believing and trusting in God and His plan for salvation. Mary first met her need to know that her virginity would not be violated. Every day that I meet my legitimate needs, whatever they are, I make available my creative, life-giving energies to say “yes” to others. If I neglect my needs, however, those energies are stymied, blocked, obstructed by anger and resentment which quietly, or not so quietly, accumulate in my unconscious and sometimes conscious mind. What a revelation for me, as I was fighting against myself repeatedly, putting my legitimate needs on the back burner, telling myself that I simply did not have time for myself. I was astounded when I realized that by meeting my needs first I release gratitude, joy, peace, love and generosity: gifts needed to authentically say “yes” to others as well as energy needed to give myself wholeheartedly to my ministry and to community life. What may initially, and to the naked eye, look like selfishness may actually, to the eyes of faith, be an unselfish choice that leads to an increased generosity in giving to others within one’s family, one’s community, one’s workplace, one's church.
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