Mother of God: Learning to Say “Yes” Through Mary
In this week’s Marian devotional series, I have decided to look inward more deeply. I have, many times, spoken about prayer, silence, discernment, and related practices. That being said to me one of the most powerful moments in all of Scripture is quiet, brief, and profoundly human: Mary’s “Yes.” When the angel Gabriel announces that she will conceive and bear the Son of God, Mary responds not with certainty or control, but with humble, faithful trust: “Let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). In that single, simple sentence Mary with openness and courage changes the course of salvation history.
Yet her “Yes” is not merely a moment to admire, it is a living model that speaks directly to the ordinary yeses and small daily choices we are asked to give in our own lives.
Chance vs Trust
At some point in our lives, we leave things to chance. We “roll the dice,” cross our fingers, and focus on the possibilities because in our minds there is still that level of uncertainty. This kind of thinking draws us away from God. If I truly want to be “Marian,” like Mary, I must focus on God not just with my mind but with my whole being; heart, will, and daily actions.
A Yes Given Without Full Clarity
Mary’s assent to God’s plan did not come with a detailed roadmap. She did not know how Joseph would respond, how her community might judge her, or how her life would be forever altered. What she did know was who God was. Her yes was rooted not in certainty about the future, but in relationship and trust. In our own lives, many of the yeses we are asked to give come without guarantees. Saying yes to a vocation, a new responsibility, forgiveness, leadership, or sacrificial love. We often want answers before commitment. Mama Mary teaches us that faith is not waiting until fear disappears; it is choosing to trust even when fear remains.
Mary’s yes was costly. As a young woman in a small town, her pregnancy risked misunderstanding, shame, and isolation. Saying yes to God did not spare her suffering; it drew her into it. From Bethlehem to the Cross, Mary’s fidelity endured uncertainty and pain.
Our own yeses to God can also be misunderstood. Saying yes to integrity, justice, chastity, service, or compassion can place us at odds with cultural expectations or personal comfort. Mama Mary reminds us courage isn’t absence of risk but choosing faithfulness when discipleship is demanding and in being all in.
A Yes That Made Space for Christ
Mary’s yes was not abstract, it was incarnational. Because she said yes, Christ entered the world through her body, her time, her daily life. She quite literally made room for God.
When we say yes to God, we carry Christ to others. Our yes can bring healing to broken relationships, hope to discouraged communities, and love where it’s missing. We don’t carry Christ physically like Mary, but our choices and actions bring Him into the world.
The yeses we give are rarely one-time decisions. We are asked to recommit daily: YES, to prayer when distracted, YES, to patience when weary, YES to love when it is inconvenient. Mama teaches us that holiness is sustained fidelity, lived one ordinary day at a time, showing up faithfully in small, repeating acts of compassion and quiet obedience.
Mama Mary didn’t know everything. She had faith! When we’re asked to say yes in our lives, we can turn to her not as a distant ideal but as a companion who knows doubt, fear, and hope.
By echoing Mary’s words: “Let it be done to me according to your word” we open ourselves to being part of God’s work in the world. Our yes may feel small, unseen, or imperfect, but in God’s hands, it can become a place where grace takes flesh again.
Mama Mary, may I be given the courage to say “YES” to God each day, both in my words and in my actions. Mama, pray for us!
Peace and all Good things!
To Jesus through St. Francis.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your spiritual journey! Keep at it! Keep praying. Love the Lord.
Frances Acosta, OFS
