Joy in prayer: Responding in love
When fear, anger, or frustration rises, Mary shows us another way. Her faithful yes invites us to pause, remain united with God in prayer, and respond in love.
Handwritten prayer about Mary responding in love, displayed on a yellow note beside a computer keyboard.
A Thought to Begin
“Mary does not react in fear. She responds in love.”
—A thought I heard during a Lenten program
Scripture
“Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’”
Reflection
I am a note-taker.
When I hear something that touches a place in my mind, my heart, and my soul, I write it down. I hang Post-it notes with quotes and meaningful thoughts on my computer, on my cubicle wall, and anywhere else I will see them.
A few months ago, I heard something that stopped me:
“Mary does not react in fear. She responds in love.”
I loved that thought. I wrote it on a Post-it note and taped it to my monitor.
I don’t remember exactly where I heard it. I think it may have been during a Lenten program from Ascension or Hallow—two Catholic resources I often listen to. Although I have not been able to confirm where the words originated, I remember how deeply they touched me.
Mary does not react in fear.
She responds in love.
Wow.
It is such a beautiful thought—and such helpful guidance for me. I try not to be a reactive person, but the truth is, I often am.
Luke tells us that Mary was greatly troubled, and Gabriel told her not to be afraid. Mary was not untouched by fear. But she did not allow fear to determine her response. She listened, asked her question, trusted God, and said yes.
Since writing those words down, I have read and prayed with them several times a day.
The past seven months have brought both tremendous joy and tremendous fear to our family. Two of our sons were married—very joy-filled moments. During that same time, my husband suffered two strokes—very frightening moments.
Through the joy, the fear, and the uncertainty of this season, those words have continued to guide me.
Mary does not react in fear. She responds in love.
Then one day, as I read the note again, something more happened. I was suddenly filled with new thoughts, a deeper meaning, and an even greater love for the guidance Mary gives me.
A prayer began to fill my heart:
Mary does not react in fear.
She responds in love.
Mary does not react in anger.
She responds in love.
Mary does not react in frustration.
She responds in love.
Mary does not react in stress.
She responds in love.
Mary does not react with impatience.
She responds in love.
Guide me, Blessed Mother.
Teach me to live as you lived
and to respond in love always.
Mary, pray with me and help me remain united to your Son.
Amen.
I received this prayer as a gift from the Holy Spirit and as a beautiful invitation from God, offered through the guidance of the Blessed Mother. As I continue to unwrap these words, I see God showing me where to take the feelings that lead me away from Him. He is teaching me how to let my life move closer to Mary’s faithful yes.
Believe me when I tell you that I am truly a work in progress. But I have more hope now that, little by little, I may be inching closer.
Something to Think About…
Where in my life might God be inviting me to pause before I react and, with Mary’s guidance, respond in love?
Continue exploring Joy in Prayer
Joy in Prayer: Are You There, God?
I thought everyone else had a direct line to God while mine must have been disconnected. Little by little, I discovered prayer is more than words—it is sharing my life with the One who loves me most.
A Thought to Begin
“For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”
Scripture
“When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart.”
Reflection
Have you ever been sitting in a Bible study and heard someone say, “God told me…”?
I know I have.
I’d sit there wondering, Why doesn’t God talk to me?
I honestly thought everyone else had a direct line to God while mine must have been disconnected.
The problem wasn’t God. It was me.
I didn’t realize that God speaks in many different ways, and I didn’t understand that I needed to spend time quietly listening. I thought prayer was all about reciting the prayers I had memorized as a child and giving God my laundry list of the changes I wanted Him to make in my life.
What I eventually discovered changed not only the way I looked at prayer, but the way I experienced my relationship with God.
I discovered that prayer is so much more than the beautiful prayers I memorized as a child, though they are still an important part of my prayer life. Prayer is how I spend time with the One who loves me most.
I don’t remember one single moment when everything changed. It happened little by little. I had been participating in Bible study for a while and was intentionally looking for ways to grow in my faith. Then one day I realized I had been carrying on an ongoing conversation with God throughout my day. I found myself talking with Him when I felt anxious, when things were going well, when I had questions, and even when I simply wanted to thank Him for something beautiful.
Prayer is no longer just something I do.
It is how I share my life with the One who loves me most.
As my friendship with God continues to grow, I continue to discover the beautiful ways the Catholic Church invites us to pray. Every form of prayer, every devotion, every saint, every spirituality, and every season of the Church has something to teach us about drawing closer to God.
In Joy in Prayer, we’ll explore these treasures together. We’ll discover different ways of praying, learn from the saints, experience the richness of the Church’s spiritual traditions, and find prayers and devotions that meet us exactly where we are on our journey.
Whether you’ve been praying for years or you’re just beginning to wonder how to have a deeper conversation with God, you are welcome here. We are simply fellow travelers, learning to recognize His voice, trust His love, and draw closer to Him one prayer at a time.
Something to Think About…
I challenge you to take a few minutes today to sit quietly with God. Be still. Quiet your words, set down what is in your hands, and gently bring your attention back to God whenever your mind wanders. Simply remain with Him, keeping your heart open to His voice.
My prayer is that in the stillness, you will recognize the invitation God is extending to each of us—the invitation to share our lives with Him.