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God goes in search of a humble and faithful and pure young Jewish girl to assist Him in bringing Jesus into the world, fulfilling God’s plan and desire that we know and abide in Love with Him. (1 John 4: 16)

Mary’s extraordinary humility enables her to say “yes” to God’s plan.

Her “yes” is a beautiful act of faith that lavishes upon the world what will become the first of countless intercessions that Mary continues to make for us, offering us all the chance to know Him.

As Pope St. Paul John II describes, “Christ offers you His friendship. He gave His life so that those who wish to answer His call can indeed become his friends. His is a friendship which is deep, genuine, loyal, and total, as all true friendship must be.”¹

Mary understands well the power of Jesus’ friendship to change lives.

¹Excerpt from Pope St. John Paul II’s message to tens of thousands of young people at an open air Mass in Camaguey, Cuba on January 23, 1998.

Continuing on with Luke’s story of the revelation of Mary’s divine mission, the archangel Gabriel announces God’s plan for Mary’s life:

“‘And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of his father, David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom, there will be no end.'” Luke 1: 31-33

Although Mary is promised in marriage to Joseph, we know that she has also taken a vow of virginity, as a sign of her dedication to God. Among early Jews and Christians, vows of virginity were sometimes taken along with betrothals. These marriages offered protection for women who had taken such vows and, in some cases, also preserved social standing within communities. The Protoevangelium of James, an apocryphal text, also confirms Mary’s virginity and the marriage plan with Joseph.

But this historical context helps us to understand that Mary’s virginity alone is not enough to make her God’s ideal woman to give birth to and raise His only Son. There are certainly other virgins living at that time, who have dedicated their lives to God. Why does God choose Mary?

As we continue with Luke’s story, we observe Mary pressing Gabriel for details about how she will conceive:

“And Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I have no husband?'” Luke 1: 34

Gabriel responds with these words:

“And the angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” Luke 1: 35

We can only wonder what is going through Mary’s mind as she contemplates Gabriel’s announcement. To further validate that, with God, anything is possible, Gabriel also shares some amazing news about Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth:

“‘And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.'” Luke 1: 36

Luke’s story reveals Mary offering her final decision to Gabriel, which implies that Gabriel is indeed awaiting her reply. Because God loves Mary, He gives her the free will to choose whether or not to accept His plan for her life.

Mary’s reply to Gabriel reveals why God has chosen her as the Mother of Jesus:

“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1: 31-38

God has chosen Mary for this divine mission because of her extraordinary humility.

In Mary’s reply to Gabriel, she describes herself as the “handmaid of the Lord.” A handmaid is a personal maid or female servant — someone whose essential function is to serve or assist.¹ Mary recognizes fully that God has chosen her as His very human assistant in this divine mission. She does not credit herself for receiving the mission — she credits God as the singular and masterful architect of this Divine plan to introduce a Messiah capable of offering a new covenant to humanity.

Mary humbles herself further before Gabriel by saying, “let it be done to me according to your word,” confirming her complete agreement with and surrender to God’s plan, no matter the cost or burden to her personally.

Mary’s extraordinary humility invites God to work within and transform her life so that Divine Love and Mercy may take human form and enter the world.

It is through Mary’s humility that the Word becomes flesh and dwells among us. (John 1: 14)

The painting that appears at the top of today’s post poignantly depicts Mary’s humility and purity. The painting was created by the American artist George Hitchcock in 1887². The white lily is traditionally associated with Mary, symbolizing her purity and innocence. Within artwork depicting The Annunciation, the archangel Gabriel is also often shown offering a white lily to Mary, again as a symbol of her purity. The fact that the artist places Mary within an entire field of lilies, with downcast eyes and a physical stance that suggests both deference and openness, no doubt demonstrates Hitchcok’s desire to highlight the unrivaled purity and humility of Mary.

¹https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handmaiden

²The Annunciation (1887), by George Hitchcock, today hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago.

My dearest Jesus,
the fog outside my window this morning
is so thick that I cannot see the fields
and life that I know lie there,
just steps from where I sit.

And so it is with You,
sweet Savior.

The fog that clouds my mind is so thick
some days that I cannot see what
You are trying to show me.

Shepherd me, O Jesus, beyond the fog,
and beyond all that I fear.

Fill me with humility so that I can hear You,
and follow You.

Lead me, dearest Friend,
far beyond my self,
to the life of love and joy and peace
that You intend for me,
and for all of us.

I love You.

Thank you for loving us.

© 2025. Stepping Stones to Grace. All Rights Reserved.

The revelation of Mary’s divine mission from God is shared in detail within the Gospel of Luke.

Luke was a physician by trade and a traveling companion of Paul. As confirmed in the opening lines of his Gospel, Luke was not an eyewitness of Jesus’ life, but he was in intimate contact with many who were. In Luke’s own words, his purpose in writing the Gospel was to confirm the certainty of the things early believers had been taught about Jesus:

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus¹, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed.” Luke 1: 1-4.

The Gospel of Luke is indeed an orderly and chronologically conscious work that connects the story of Jesus with the larger Jewish and Roman world. As a physician — and as evidenced in his style of writing — Luke is personally responsible and accountable to people. Good physicians naturally possess a blend of medical knowledge and expertise, critical thinking, good communication skills, and ethical integrity. This context makes Luke’s detailed account of an archangel’s announcement, to a young Jewish girl named Mary, that she will conceive and bear a Son through a virgin birth — and become the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God — even more meaningful.

Again, we do not know much about the life of Mary. Apocryphal text² identifies Mary as the only child of a pious couple, Anne and Joachim. Jewish parents viewed children as the greatest blessing from God and loved them dearly. While we do not know the age of Mary when the archangel Gabriel appears to her, we can presume that, as a young Jewish girl of faithful parents, Mary was raised as closely to the letter of Jewish law as possible, and as based on scripture. Mary had no doubt committed various Psalms to memory and studied the Hebrew scriptures closely, encouraged by her parents to contemplate the promises of God.

Mary also would have been taught helpful skills for running a household, such as cooking and weaving and caring for children.

Upon his arrival, the archangel Gabriel confirms the close tie of Mary’s heart to God and her favor with Him:

“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!'” Luke 1: 26-28

“Hail, Mary” is a very joyful greeting that could be rephrased with modern words such as “Rejoice, most highly favored and beloved daughter of God!” Gabriel’s reference to Mary being “full of grace” confirms her purity — or in other words, Mary’s freedom from the stain of original sin.

Gabriel’s greeting of Mary concludes with the words, “The Lord is with you” — again signifying the depth of her current spiritual state, and perhaps even alluding to what may come for Mary.

Mary must have been startled by the presence of the archangel and perhaps surprised by his greeting, for Luke goes on to recount the following:

“But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.'” Luke 1: 29-30

Gabriel is a powerful archangel – a heavenly messenger from God who makes appearances in both the Old and New Testaments. Archangels are supernatural spirits and forces who help to bridge the gaps that exist between the realities of earth and heaven.

We can only imagine what is going through Mary’s mind and heart as she takes in the presence of this unexpected and supernatural visitor. Gabriel is very direct in asserting that Mary is someone very dear to God. And yet despite Mary’s favor with God, she will be given the freedom to choose whether or not she will accept the plan that the Father has for her life.

But for today, I draw your eyes back to the artwork that appears at the top of this post. The painting was created by Henry Ossawa Tanner in 1898³. Henry grew up in Pennsylvania, the eldest son of a reverend in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In his depiction of the Annunciation, the artist captures both Mary’s humility and confusion. It appears that Mary has been awakened from her sleep by the archangel Gabriel, who is depicted as a column of bright light — a wonderful symbol of the Light that wishes to enter the world through this young girl.

¹Theophilus is referred to again in Acts 1:1 , but nothing is known of him. Luke is also the author of the Acts of the Apostles.

²From the following apocryphal texts: the Gospel of the Nativity of Mary, Pseudo-Matthew and the Protoevangelium of James.

³The Annunciation (1898), by Henry Ossawa Tanner, today hangs in The Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Humility is a conscious choice to place God’s plans before our own plans. We all possess beauty and love and gifts that are unique to us as individual persons and souls. Humility enables us to slow down, to listen for God, and to contemplate the things that He places on our hearts. This enables us to understand who we are in the eyes of the Lord.

In Mary, the Mother of Jesus and His first disciple, we find humanity’s most profound example of the grace and power of humility.

We know that God is Love; and because we are made in God’s image, we know and believe the Love that God has for us. (1 John 4: 16, Genesis 1: 26-27) We also know that God has a plan for each and every one of our lives — plans to give us a future and hope that covers all things. (Jeremiah 29: 11)

The plan that God had for Mary’s life was extraordinary:

“The Lord created me at the beginning of His work,
the first of His work,
the first of His acts of old.

“Ages ago, I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of
the earth.

“When there were no depths I was
brought forth,
when there were no springs
abounding with water.

“Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth;
before He had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.

“When He established the heavens, I was there,
when He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when He made firm the skies above,
when He established the fountains of the deep,
when He assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress His command,
when He marked out the foundations of the earth,
then I was beside Him, like a master workman;
and I was daily His delight,
rejoicing before Him, always,
rejoicing in His inhabited world
and delighting in the sons of men.”
Proverbs 8: 22-31

The prophet Isaiah revealed one part of Mary’s mission:

“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel.” Isaiah 7: 14

What do we know more broadly about Mary’s life? She is largely an indistinct figure within the Bible. She receives the most mention in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, but there are so many details of Mary’s life that we do not know.

As the human Mother of our Divine Savior, Mary’s mission continues today. Throughout the last 20 centuries, there have been reports of Mary appearing to both children and adults, which again is quite extraordinary. The Catholic Church recorded that her first appearance was to St. James in Spain, around A.D. 40.

No other human in the history of the world has fired the imagination more than Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Mary holds an exalted position even in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam that is believed to be a revelation directly from God. Mary is mentioned 70 times within that text — and she is the only woman mentioned there.

Through Muslim eyes, Mary is also exceptional. While the Islam religion does not recognize the Divinity of Jesus, it does recognize the purity of Mary and Jesus both, and the miraculous Virgin conception of Jesus. The Quran 3:42 says, “O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.”

But through Christian eyes, Mary’s choice to place God’s plans before her own enabled Divine Love and Mercy to briefly take human form, offering a path to forgiveness and reconciliation with God the Father.

This Lenten season of reflection on the sacrifice and promise that Jesus offers us can also be a special time to ponder the life, humility and love of Mary, His Mother.

On the one-year anniversary of the assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Pope St. John Paul II emphasized in his May 13, 1982, address, “Since Mary is the mother of us all, her care for the life of man is universal.” 

I cherish these words from the letter that St. Paul wrote to believers in the city of Philippi, an important Roman colony in Greece. Paul knew how destructive worry and fear can be. He wrote these words while imprisoned under Roman guard, which makes Paul’s challenge to us to trust in Jesus and to rejoice in all situations even more inspiring and amazing:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say REJOICE. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is ANYTHING worthy of praise, THINK about these things.

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4: 4-9)

Picking up on last week’s post about practicing humility — humility is a conscious choice to place God’s plans before our own plans and egos.

Ego is a complex thing. On one hand, ego enables us to make order out of chaos by navigating the tensions that exist among our human urges and needs and the external realities and norms of society. Used with moderation and in a spirit of love, ego can be a somewhat productive thing.

The danger of ego, however, lies in the limitations it imposes through separation. Ego is tied to our sense of personal identity. Within the physical world, our identities are far too often defined through comparions of ourselves to others, pushing us to “fit in” and to “be seen” in a world where the “kingdom of self” often reigns supreme.

Ego goes where the crowds are — and where there appears to be safety in numbers. But as St. Paul reminds us, Jesus is not calling us to spend our lives and energies focused on what the world views as good and acceptable. Jesus is calling you and me to discover what is good and acceptable in the eyes of His Father:

“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

A lack of humility is a dangerous thing. Old Testament prophets shared visions of the fall of Lucifer (the devil), one of God’s most magnificent and beloved angels. Here is Ezekiel’s description of how pride and ego turned an angel into a devil:

“You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty … with an annointed guardian cherub, I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked … Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. [So] I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings.” Ezekiel 28: 12, 14. 17

The same danger exists for our souls. As Christians, we recognize that we are mind, body, heart and soul. Jesus himself described the importance of loving God “‘with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your [bodily] strength.'” (Mark 12: 30)

So our earthly lives present a starting point for the ultimate journey of our souls. Because we are more than our temporal bodies, the actions we take on earth will define how we spend eternity. Although the choice to let go of ego and to practice humility is ours to make, Jesus is fighting hard for our souls. A friend of mine who is a Jesuit priest once said:

“Christ comes into our lives to strike His sword between our egos and our souls. It is a tough act, separating the ego from the soul. But in following Christ, we can find a way to separate and distance ourselves from ego.”

This image of Christ is sobering and dramatic. My friend shared these words during his homily at a Sunday mass. He had moved away from the pulpit and was standing halfway back the center aisle of the church, among all of us. He paused for a few seconds, encouraging us to think about what he had just said.

We all possess beauty and love and gifts that are unique to us as individual persons and souls. Humility enables us to slow down, to listen for God, and to understand who we are in the eyes of the Lord. I hear God whisper on my heart:

Distance yourself from pride and the worry of not being enough or having enough. Your ego holds you back. Stop seeking the affirmations of the world. Can you not see that these worldly things will never be enough to fill the longing in your heart? Turn to Me for meaning and purpose. Let Me show you how to use the gifts I’ve created for you and within you. Trust that I am with you and that I will never allow you to fall. (Psalm 46:5) I promise that as you search for Me, you will find Me. In finding Me, you will find your true and beautiful self.

Practicing humility gives God the power to transform us from ego to love. I do not think that God ever intended that these transformations occur on our deathbeds. God wants us to realize our power and purpose in Him right now, among the living.

Only Jesus lived out God’s plan for His human life perfectly. And He confirms the power of humility to draw us closer to God:

Jesus said, “‘Blessed are the poor in spirit [or those who recognize their complete need for God’s saving grace and wisdom], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'” Matthew 5: 3

Our humility is precious in the gentle eyes of the Father. It frees us to live and love deeply, as God intends for each of us:

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories [find] glory in this — that he undertands and knows Me, and knows that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight,’ says the Lord.” Jeremiah 9: 23-24

All of us possess unique gifts, designed perfectly for us by God. These gifts are perfectly suited to us and meant to be shared:

“Each one of us should use whatever gift we have received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4: 10-11

Drawing closer to God is the only way to fully recognize our gifts and to use them wisely. One of the most powerful steps we can take to draw closer to God is to practice humility.

Sometimes we associate humility with quiet lives or meek behaviors, or even with low or self-deprecating views of ourselves. But as the great saints show us over and again, humility means thinking about others and God more, and having the courage to use our gifts in ways that create meaningful goodness for others.

Think about some of our amazing modern saints — Pope Saint John Paul II, Saint Teresa of Calcutta (also known as Mother Teresa), Saint Maximilian Kolbe and Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity. These were men and women who knew and loved God deeply; and through their relationship with Him, they became keenly aware of their gifts. Their profound humility freed them to surrender their own plans so they could use the gifts God had given to them, to the greatest extent possible.

We know that there is tremendous goodness and fullness in the plans that God has for all of us. (Jeremiah 29: 11-12; Luke 12: 7) We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8: 28-29) We know that on our own, our vantage points as humans are limited. We cannot see how all the magnificent puzzle pieces of our lives fit together. (Jeremiah 10: 23) This is ok, because the Lord of Hosts is with us and will help us. As He whispers to us in our hearts, the chaos and fear within us melts away. (Psalm 46: 5-6) And the path forward is revealed. (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

God loves us so much.

He is calling for us in the new year.

Dearest Jesus, please fill us with more and more humility, so that we can focus our thoughts more and more on God. Help us to pause and turn away from the distractions of daily life so that we can focus on what You are trying to show us. Help us to recognize You as our great source of joy and goodness … for we are placing all our hope in the truth of Your promise — If we look for You, we will find You. Dear God, help us to accept and experience the full joy of being loved by You. Amen.

Practicing humility naturally draws us closer to God. This frees us to live and love deeply with Him and for Him.

The goodness of God is a wonderful thing to ponder.

He loves you so much.

“‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,‘ declares the Lord.'” Jeremiah 29: 12-14

This past Sunday at Mass, we read one of my favorite set of verses from the Old Testament — from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 6, verses 1-8.

Isaiah — an 8th-century BC prophet and significant contributor to both Jewish and Christian traditions — is considered to be the greatest prophet of all time. Believing in one God, Isaiah lived during a dangerous period in Israel’s history, when the nation was threatened by various ferocious and paganistic rulers.

Isaiah’s Old Testament Book is lengthy. Many scholars agree that the first 39 chapters were written by the prophet himself. In these chapters, Isaiah often writes in the first person, making his shared visions of God and predictions of the coming Messiah even more profound and beautiful. Over and over, Isaiah predicts the exile of Israel, because of the nation’s continued rebellion against God.

The second part of the Book of Isaiah (Chapters 40-55), which was likely authored by a follower of Isaiah, is filled with verses of comfort and hope. At this point in history, Babylon is now the power, with Judah handed over into the hands of the Babylonian rulers. The Book of Isaiah concludes (Chapters 56-66) with a collection of prophecies on various topics.

Here are the beautiful verses from Isaiah that we read last Sunday:

In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and His train filled the temple. Above Him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth if full of His glory.”

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven.”

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” (Isaiah 6: 1-8)

These verses offer so much hope. Throughout the chaos and uncertainty of every life, the saving grace of God is ever present. When we turn back to God and surrender our lives to His plans, we find indescribable mercy and joy.

We also find love and purpose.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins and our doubts. Forgive what we do and what we fail to do. Strengthen and help us today, Jesus, to see the majesty of God. Help us to slow down so that we may contemplate and understand His deep Love for us, and trust in the beautiful plans God has for our lives right now and here on earth. When God calls to us, please help us to joyfully and confidently respond as Isaiah does — Here I am! Send me!

I have kicked off the new year with a bible study focused on St. Paul and his remarkable transformation from Christian persecutor into Christian evangelist.

St. Paul’s life and his beautiful New Testament writings remind us that God’s deepest desire is to redeem and transform us into loving men and women (Ephesians 4: 22-24). To be transformed, we must be willing to surrender our own plans to God’s plans.

With God, surrendering is about drawing closer to Him — and trusting Him with the questions on our hearts. The closer we draw to God, the more we begin to see He has the answers we seek. And more often than not, we begin to realize that He has the answers we do not even understand we need.

The more we surrender to God, the more we begin to understand and see that His Will for all of us truly is Love.

Saints like Paul understand the joy of a life surrendered to God. Here is a beautiful poem — by the Medieval poet, Hafiz — that memorably describes that joy:

Tripping Over Joy

What is the difference
between your experience of Existence
and that of a saint?

The saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God

And that the Beloved
Has just made a Fantastic Move

That the saint is now continually
Tripping over Joy
And bursting out in Laughter
And saying, “I Surrender!”

Whereas, my dear,
I am afraid you still think

You have a thousand serious moves.
— Hafiz

I imagine Hafiz was smiling as he wrote this poem.

God loves us so much.

Dear Holy Spirit, help us to be more like the saints, surrendering our plans to God in this new year. Help us to let go with a smile and let God select those intended moves that can be combined with His ideas to create the most goodness and joy. Amen.