Be it done according to the word

Be it done according to the word

Luke 1:26-38. The Angelus

The Angelus prayer commemorates the response of Mama Mary to Gabriel the archangel: “Be it done to me according to Your Word!”

In the Catholic mass, before the Holy Communion, we pray: “…only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

Upon reflecting on these prayers, what stands out to me now is that words precede actions. And even in the story of creation, before existence, God utters, “let there be…”

Maybe this is a reminder that our actions should not be borne from hasty judgements or reckless impulse. Actions should be an outcome of intelligent understanding and reasonable judgements.

When we look at snap judgements and actions, aren’t these borne from specialized training of a craftsman, artist, or athlete under very specific conditions? When we look at shortcuts in mathematical formulas, are these not the fruits of intelligent derivations from grand equations?

The key to an integrated life seems so simple yet so difficult: thinking before acting, and aligning thoughts with actions. It’s easy to skip steps, but the ease by which we could skip steps highlights the kind of discipline a truly virtuous person or organization consistently exhibits.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 84: MARCH 25, 2022]