Day 32 - The significant 'yes'

Today we remember in our liturgical calendar the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Whilst it is set to slot in nine months before our celebration of Christmas, it does give us a chance to further ponder in Lent the significance of the word 'yes'.

Neither Mary's 'yes' or Christ's 'yes' feel like a reluctant 'yes'. Both give themselves wholeheartedly to what they have been called to do. It's interesting re-reading in Luke that encounter between Mary and the angel. At first she was much perplexed and pondered the words, then she asked a very understandable question 'How can this be?' and once she had received that all important explanation she gave the significant 'yes' and life for her was never the same again. We neither know what went on in Mary's mind, nor how powerful that encounter was. I would suggest that it was a very powerful encounter, touching her very deeply and moving her so much that her 'yes' was unequivocal.

So often in today's world we weigh up all our options, and usually want to keep them open. We break promises we cannot keep, or keep them only for a while. Our 'yes' comes with strings attached (pre-nuptial agreements comes to mind!), or our 'yes' remains very strongly on our own terms. It's interesting that only yesterday in our Morning Prayer readings we have been in Exodus with Pharaoh's determined 'No'! Yet, time and time again we can see through history, that remarkable things happen because people say 'yes' and mean it. It's as if God comes through the 'yes' into our world - the signs of peace and reconciliation, the long term commitments to a cause, or a relationship, the lives dedicated to him.

This morning I am reminded of a particular time in my own life, when I said a definite 'yes'. It was at Spring Harvest in Easter 1989. I had been working at Christ Church, Billericay for about six months, I had not yet thought about ordination. My 'yes' was not to a prayer, but a song which clearly articulated my feelings.

I want to serve the purpose of God in my generation

I want to serve the purpose of God while I am alive

I want to give my life for something that will last forever

Oh, I delight, I delight to do Your will

I want to build with silver and gold in my generation

I want to build with silver and gold while I am alive

I want to give my life for something that will last forever

Oh, I delight, I delight to do Your will

What is on Your heart? Tell me what to do

Let me know Your will

And I will follow You

I want to see the Lord come again in my generation

I want to see the Lord come again while I am alive

I want to give my life for something that will last forever

Oh, I delight, I delight to do Your will

That 'yes' gave God permission and for me life was never the same again. As I reflect on that, I am aware about how much I need to go on saying 'yes', to renew that sense of commitment, and reflect upon it's power. That does not mean that I never say 'no' - that would be irresponsible (and totally unbecoming of an archdeacon!), but means that I do say 'yes' in the way that enables, and commits, that is wholehearted and total. My prayer today, is that my 'yes' will always mean 'YES'!