Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord;
let it be to me according to your word. — Luke 1:38

How precious this one sentence uttered by our Blessed Mother is to the salvation of all of mankind. With this one sentence, Mary said, “Yes” to a completely unknown and unchartered path for her life, one that meant an inexplicable abandonment of her plans, dreams and hopes that heretofore had been an intimate part of who she was. The gift of faith that we all enjoy and the sustaining graces we experience in our lives are beholding to the utterance of this one sentence. It’s boggling to think about the impact that so few words, freely spoken, had on so many lives and souls. Mary’s Yes allowed the Incarnation of the Lord and his Spirit to enter into all of our lives, as well as his body, soul and divinity to be within us through the Eucharist. 

The humility and acceptance demonstrated by our Blessed Mother was the model that Blessed Teresa of Kolkata aspired to imitate during her earthly sojourn. Soon-to-be St. Mother Teresa also had an encounter with Our Lord when she received her call within her call. Our Lord called her to abandon her life as a Loretto Sister and to embrace him in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor within the slums of Calcutta. 

As with Mother Mary, she inexplicably said, “Yes” to this call of the Lord to abandon her understanding of her life’s purpose, to embrace an unknown and unchartered path in service of Our Lord. Her Yes to the Lord had a tremendous impact on the world and the lives of millions.

Mother Teresa personally touched the lives of millions as a conduit of Our Lord’s mercy and love. She was a pencil in God’s hand that willingly brought the word to life as God moved her freely. 

Those dying in the streets that she caressed and comforted saw Jesus through her, as well those sisters, brothers and priests who saw Jesus in her, and they were moved to offer their own Yes to Our Lord. Tens of thousands of souls were gained as laborers in the vineyard, for the sake of the kingdom. 

Then there are the millions who have been indirectly affected by Mother’s life, by seeing her on television at the many talks that she gave, reading about her life and the example of putting the Gospels into practice. What an impact from a simple “Yes”!

Most recently, we’ve read about four of Mother’s sisters who demonstrated the highest form of love, by laying down their lives as martyrs for the faith: Sisters Anselm, Reginette, Judith and Marguerite. Their Yes meant following in Mother’s footsteps in service of the poorest of the poor, wherever they may be, especially in the most dangerous parts of the world. 

Their vocation was all about bringing the light of Christ into the darkness, shining brightly as an example of faith that will be an inspiration to the Church for years to come.

In this Year of Mercy, during which the Church will officially canonize Mother Teresa as a saint, let us reflect on how her Yes impacted the world and those of four precious sisters, who freely gave the ultimate gift of their lives for the glory of God — and how Mother Mary’s Yes enabled all of us to experience the incarnate Word of God.

As we reflect, give some thought to how their example may encourage and inspire us directly within our own lives. What is God asking of us personally? Will we respond with, “Yes,” even though we have no idea what it might lead to? And even if it may even seem frightening to do so? 

Let us pray for the grace to say, “Yes” — all for the glory of God.