At the Rohr conference I picked up the book Radical Grace, a year of daily reflections. I only stick with these sorts of books for a couple of months, but I generally enjoy using them through the seasons of Advent and Lent especially. I think it’s because I’m always trolling for sermon nuggets, although it’s kind of pathetic to put it that way.

Today Rohr had a good insight into the immediate action of Mary upon receiving the word of the angel Gabriel. Mary goes “immediately to the home to the hill country” of her cousin Elizabeth. Mary recognizes that this is not the moment for contemplation – life itself, Rohr notes, is to give her the next cues.

Mary’s immediate action reminds me of Abraham’s activity in the wake of God’s word. Time after time, as soon as Abraham gets a word from God - he acts. He picks up and leaves; he takes his son Isaac; he moves. There is a sense that THIS is the role of the sojourner, simply to act in accordance with the Word that comes to us. Genesis contrasts Abraham’s activity to his nephew Lot’s passivity, nostalgia, and overall lack of responsibility.

“Let it be done to me according to thy will!” Mary says…”Behold the handmaiden of the Lord.” Mary shows me the active engagement of saying YES to God.

In short, following God is going to require something of us – but it will always be God who’s giving the Word, calling the shots, asking the questions.

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