Blessed Mother, help me to be obedient to the will of God, that I may freely surrender my life into his loving care.
March 3
“And Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” — John 2:4
At the wedding feast in Cana, Jesus listened to the prompting of his mother and changed water into wine. When Mary says, “Do whatever he tells you,” she is also speaking to all of us. If we follow Mary’s directive and adhere to the will of the Lord, then the watery events of our lives have the opportunity to be changed into choice wine as well.
Jesus’ words are clear and straightforward; yet how often do we fail to do what the Lord asks of us? At times, it seems that our broken world takes great delight in meeting conflict and diversity with hatred and condemnation. Spiritual transformation is possible, but only if we are willing to surrender our own willfulness over to the Lord so that we may follow Mary’s example and do whatever Jesus tells us.
— Lauren Nelson
IF YOU WERE STANDING in the presence of our Blessed Mother and she told you to do whatever he tells you, what would your response be?
Prayer: Mary, help us to listen to the words of your Son, Jesus, that we may do whatever he asks of us.
March 4
“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:13
At the age of thirty-two, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Alone and frightened, I opened up to my friends and church community about my diagnosis not long after surgery. I was overwhelmed by the great outpouring of support through meals, visits, prayers, child care, and acts of love. My friends and family laid down their lives for me by surrendering their fears to visit me and entering into my pain to comfort me with their love.
During this dark time, I prayed to Mary daily and begged her to ask Jesus to heal me. Blessed Mary was my strength; she was there to help me when I was alone and afraid.
Mary held me when I cried, soothed my fears and sorrows, and invited me to surrender my cross moments to her. She will do the same for you.
— Dr. Barb Jarvis Pauls
HOW CAN I SURRENDER my fears of reaching out to others today and be present like Mother Mary? Is there someone I know who needs a friend to inspire faith and give reassurance of God’s abiding love?
Prayer: Holy Mary, Mother of God, thank you for all the ways you have been my friend and confidante. Help me to open up and surrender to the faith and love that you share in Jesus, your Son.
March 5
“Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit may we be accepted / … / for there will be no shame for those who trust in you.” — Daniel 3:39-40*
In our business-as-usual reactive mode, it is often difficult for us to be contrite and humble, much less forgiving. Mary’s life inspires us to prayerfully reflect upon things before we act or react. In times of difficulties and great challenges, Mary prayerfully surrendered the events in her life over to the Lord. In this responsive mode, she was able to fulfill God’s plan for her.
Surrender is a choice we make of our own free will and with God’s grace. With Mary’s help, we can prayerfully surrender our anger, our desire for control, and our need for security over to the Lord. When we do, we grow in our spiritual life.
— John Holmes
CHOOSE A TIME TODAY, even if only for five minutes, to sit quietly with God. Prayerfully ponder the following: What are the one or two major blocks to God’s grace in your life? Pray to let go of those obstacles so that you can become more receptive to God’s grace.
Prayer: Dearest Mother Mary, continue to lead me to your Son and help me to be in a better position to do what God calls me to do.
* Some texts identify this passage as part of “The Prayer of Azariah in the Furnace” (vv. 16-17) within Daniel 3.
March 6
“Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; / we are the clay, and you are our potter; / we are all the work of your hand.” — Isaiah 64:8
It is startling to learn how deeply we have been living in delusion, or to come face to face with the realization of how we have not been relying on God, really.
My twenty-year-old son had never had any health issues more serious than a pitching injury during high school baseball. On a recent study-abroad program, he had trouble breathing and Italian doctors found a large tumor in his sinus and cranial cavity. The life that we knew, his and mine, immediately came to a screeching halt. There had been absolutely no warning signs of a detour ahead. After a twelve-hour operation, six weeks of recovery, and daily radiation for six-plus weeks, they found more cancer. Now more radiation is scheduled. Daily, I ask God, “Where are you?”
— Betty Crane
IN MOMENTS OF DESPAIR, I think of Mary at the foot of Jesus’ cross, looking up at his brutalized, crucified body. What were her thoughts? How was she able to surrender to the Crucifixion? In the darkness, let us cling to Mary for help in surrendering to our heavenly Father.
Prayer: Mary, help me learn to surrender to God’s plan for me and for those I love just as you surrendered your life to your heavenly Father. Help me to accept how God shapes my life and my heart.
March 7
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” — Joshua 24:15
Mary’s decision to serve God came in the form of her unconditional yes, her willingness not only to bear Jesus, the Son of God, but to raise him and accompany him through life. As his mother, Mary freely and completely devoted herself to this divine calling. When Jesus grew up and took on public ministry, Mary continued to offer her life in supporting Jesus as he healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and offered mercy to those in need.
Today’s families come in all shapes and sizes, and not everyone’s household is in perfect order; yet Mary’s life gives us hope. Mary invites us to follow in her steps as we place God at the center of our family life. Then we and our house will be able to serve the Lord.
— Lauren Nelson
CONSIDER YOUR OWN FAMILY. What could you surrender so that you and your household could better serve God? What does serving the Lord look like in your particular family?
Prayer: Mary, help me to surrender my heart and the lives of all those that I love over to the Lord, so that our house may love and serve God all the days of our lives.
March 8
“This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” — John 17:3
There is a Navajo tale that tells of a warrior who searched for God. Seeing God on a mountaintop, the scout rode up and dismounted. He took three arrows and held them high above his head, then placed the arrows at God’s feet. God waved the scout away.
The scout returned to his horse, took
