We know that Mary told the Angel Gabriel when asked to be the mother of the Son of God Most High, “Let it be done to me as you say” (Lk 1:38). While such a response emanated from the depths of Mary’s spirituality, I wonder whether this was a frequent response in less serious matters. Was Mary’s stance in life a deep-seated ability to say, “Let me be done to me”? Certainly this was no passive response as in our facile expression “Whatever.” Was it instead the attitude of a human being fashioned from all eternity to be the model of accepting God’s Will? In conceiving Jesus in her womb, she left herself wide open to whatever God would ask.

Did Mary continue using this phrase when facing Joseph in the early days of her pregnancy? Was “Let it be done” on her lips when riding a donkey to Bethlehem? Did the words vibrate with worry when fleeing to Egypt? Had Joseph heard “Let it be done to me” so often that it became his mantra too? Did the little boy Jesus prattle “Let it be done” among his first words following “Mama”?

In the Passion Narrative (Luke 22-23) Jesus was open to whatever was done to him: betrayal, denial, whipping, arrest, interrogation, crucifixion. Would “Let it be done to me as you say, O Father” be his response to constant physical and mental suffering? In the agony Jesus’ acceptance was “Yet not my will but yours be done.” His response to his passion was a full acceptance of his Father’s will. Jesus was never the victim, someone forced to do what he was required to do. No, it was pure self-gift, pure sacrifice, pure obedience to his Father’s will, pure love.

May we make “Let it be done to me” our mantra. No poor me or why me attitude. Let’s align ourselves with the mantra of Joseph, Mary, and the Son of God. And when the Father saw Christ’s suffering, I imagine God also said, “Let the suffering I feel be done” as the Trinity together redeems the world.