Reflecting on St. Luke 1:38—“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”—this meditation draws us into the holy moment when heaven waited for a human response. Before the mystery of the Incarnation unfolded, God, who spoke the galaxies into being, stood before the freedom of a young virgin and asked for her consent.

Mary’s “yes” came without guarantees, clarity, or assurance of safety. It was faith offered without conditions. As the Syrian Fathers teach, through one woman’s willing obedience, the Savior entered the world, and divine life crossed the threshold into human history.

Rev. Fr. Dr. Timothy (Tenny) Thomas invites us to recognize how God works in the same way within us. Grace is never forced; it is always invited. Each quiet “yes”—whether bold or trembling—creates space for Christ to dwell more deeply in the heart. Small acts of obedience, patience, forgiveness, and truth spoken gently carry eternal weight in God’s hands.

During the Nativity Fast, we are called to notice those sacred moments when heaven leans close and waits. Choose one obedience you have postponed, and say yes—not because you understand everything, but because you trust Him. For every faithful “yes” allows Christ to be born again in the hidden places of the heart.