Are we Handmaids?

Over the past week, I have heard three different people tell me eerily similar experiences. One a former atheist, one a family member, and one a priest. Three different people connected by a similar experience. I don’t recall ever hearing such experiences from people, so to hear three different people tell of a similar experience I figured it’s something I’ll reflect on.

This was the experience: A lady speaking to them.

Wow! I don’t mean a lady you see walking down the street, or one you see at the store, or even our biological mother.

I mean a heavenly lady.

On Sunday, I am speaking to a quasi ex-athiest whose faith journey centers around an experience when he planned to commit suicide but was stopped by a sign from God. During this conversation, he tells me that other times in his life, a lady has spoken to him. Distinctly and clearly, she speaks to him.

Maybe the next day, I am speaking to a family member and he says that when he was a child maybe 6 or 7 years old, he would hear a lady say his name. That is all. Only his name. He’d stop what he was doing and run to his mother and ask what she wanted and she’d say something like, “Huh? I didn’t call you.” He says that he remembers those moments distinctly and the lady said only his name. By now, I'm thinking how similar both these stories are.

Then later in the week, I am listening to a CD about the life of a man who when he was 8 years old, was standing in his backyard smelling flowers when he heard his name, “Johnny.” He turned and saw a beautiful lady looking at him. Then she disappeared. He went through life not thinking much of it, he got into fame and money and drugs and the fast lane, and then ended homeless and in the hospital for over a year. One day in the hospital, while lying in his bed, he heard his name, “Johnny” and saw a lady standing in the room and then she disappeared. And after his dark period of life, he emerged and as the Lord would have it, he was called to be a priest. While at St. Peter’s Basilica being ordained, he once again heard a lady say his name, “Johnny” and then he turned and saw a beautiful lady and then she disappeared. He said there were three mothers present that day when he became a priest. His biological mother, Mother Teresa, and then his heavenly mother.

In reflecting on these experiences during this Advent season as we prepare the birth of our Lord and savior, I cannot help but think about our heavenly mother, Mary who is a model for me to imitate during this period of waiting for the Lord.

Imagine that an angel appeared to you and said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
Then you became greatly troubled. But the angel said, “Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God.” And the angel proceeded to tell you how you are going to bear the savior of the world of all time.

First, I would be thinking. Okay is this real? Let me wipe my eyes a bit. Okay, the angel is still there. Let me wipe them again. Second, I would ponder do I really want to give up my life for God. I mean I have many other plans in my life. I’m not ready for children and I’m focusing on my career. Where am I going to live and who is going to pay the bills? But this is what Mary says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Wow! Amazing obedience and humility to the Lord. I mean when do we ever say, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” And if we do, do we mean it wholeheartedly?

And then when Mary learns of this, being chosen by our Father to bear our Savior, what does she do? Sit back and admire herself for being chosen as the Queen of the Prince of Peace? It seems not. It seems she is rejoicing so she sets out in haste and travels to the hill country and visits her cousin Elizabeth. And how does Elizabeth respond? She says, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

And then later, here you are about to give birth to the Son of God, and of all things, God doesn’t even provide a palace or a hotel room for you to have this child. Wandering outside, perhaps sand blowing in your face, your bottom sore from being on a donkey. . . and no hospital or bathtub in sight, let alone some cold Aquafina. I mean c’mon I have Your Son in my womb, please grant me a miracle and put me in a warm, clean room in the inn.

I think by now I would be having serious doubts as to whether this is all true and whether this is going to be fulfilled.

And then you bear the Holy One… not in a room at the inn, but in a manger, of all places. This is our King, our Savior! And He is born where animals live. Is this really our Prince?
But it seems Mary was strong in her faith from the beginning, and the grace of God was upon her. Her cousin Elizabeth had told her, “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

So I guess this Advent season I must ask myself, “Do I trust in God like Mary did?” Can I earnestly say “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

And if a heavenly lady ever comes to visit me, if she ever speaks to me and says, "Derrick" while I am smelling flowers in the backyard do I say ,“Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb?" And then ask,“How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”