Recently I was in a Christmas concert, and the theme was Mary at the manger. It all moved me very much, but the piece I connected with the most and have kept letting work on me was about her saying “Let it be done to me.” To receive Jesus as her son. Let it be done, to me. All she can do is make space in her heart and her life, and receive.
It was a potent moment to let some things in my life be done to me, some ways the Lord is working in my life that I can only make space for and receive. Each time the words came back around, our director had us note the change in mood as Mary’s receptivity and yes entered more deeply into her heart. “Ecce ancilla Domini.” Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Behold, see me, see me deeply, look at me, receive me as I receive. “Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.” Let it be done to me according to your word. Returning to it more deeply, more deeply, more deeply. Let it be done to me in this new layer of my heart.
This painting was to keep steeping in it, to keep steeping in the space opening up to let it be done to me.
