Commitment can be a hard thing for some individuals. We've certainly all met a person with "commitment issues" - someone with such extreme anxiety about a decision that running for the hills or simply doing nothing at all seem like much better options. However, at the core of the anxiety that accompanies any decision, big or small, is the same thing: fear.

Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel gives us one of the biggest commitments ever made in human history. Through her fiat, “May it be done to me according to your word,” she commits to being a literal vessel for the Divine; the mother of God Himself. How did Mary, a teenage girl, make this choice so readily and fearlessly? The answer is simple: she was born for it.

The dogma of the Immaculate Conception affirms that Mary, from the moment of her conception, was preserved from original sin. This grace prepared her to be a worthy vessel for Christ and enabled her total “yes” to God without hesitation or reservation. Mary’s purity of heart and freedom from sin allowed her to embrace God's will with courage, even if she did not fully understand it.

All of us are called to commit ourselves to God like Mary. Too often we forget that God is a good and loving Father who cares for His children. Therefore, we must set aside our fears and courageously say “yes” to His plans, no matter how challenging they may seem.

What fears or uncertainties are holding you back from committing to and trusting in God's will?

Holy Mary, Immaculate Conception, pray for us! Amen.