SIMPLE40 - DAY 31 - The Yes That Carries Us

Katie Donahue
Mar 24
5 min read

The Annunciation - Mosaic Tile - Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception - Rosary Walk and Garden

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A Steady Yes

Did you know that the Solemnity of the Annunciation is not just about a single moment of encounter? It is about the beginning of a life lived in deep, steady union with God.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, her “yes” was not a burst of emotion or a one-time decision. It was the beginning of a life of stability. A life rooted in God. A life that would unfold in both hiddenness and suffering. A life that would remain faithful, present, and anchored, no matter what came.

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. ~Luke 1:38

Mary did not fully understand what was being asked of her. She did not see the whole path ahead. But she said yes anyway.

God is not asking you to understand what He may be asking of you.

He is asking you to trust.

The Beginning of a Sacred Rhythm

Mary’s fiat set into motion a rhythm that would shape the rest of her life:

carrying Christ within her
pondering and praying
serving in the ordinary
remaining close through joy and sorrow

This is the same rhythm we are invited into. Over these 40 days, we have been returning again and again to simplicity, stability, and intentional living. The Annunciation reminds us that this kind of life does not happen all at once.

It begins with a yes.

And then continues with another… and another… and another.

The Eucharist: Our Daily Fiat

At the Annunciation, Mary received Jesus into her body.

Today, we are given that same gift through the Eucharist.

This is where our “yes” becomes real.

Each time you come to the Eucharist, you are invited to echo Mary’s words:

to receive
to surrender
to trust

You may not understand everything God is doing in your life. You may not see where He is leading. But in the Eucharist, He gives Himself to you anyway...and asks you to trust Him.

A steady returning.

A daily re-centering.

A quiet, faithful yes.

Living Your Fiat with Stability

You may not be asked to carry Christ in the same way Mary did, but you are invited to carry Him into your everyday life. Not in big, dramatic ways. But in steady, grounded faithfulness.

Here are a few simple ways to live that today:

Say yes to what is already in front of you
Instead of resisting moments that disrupt your plans, you can welcome them as opportunities to serve, just as Mary’s life was interrupted by God’s call. Whether it’s a child needing attention, a friend who calls unexpectedly, or a stranger at the grocery store who needs kindness...your yes in these moments reflects Mary’s openness.
Your vocation, your responsibilities, your people...this is where God is meeting you.
Return to prayer before reacting
Before Mary acted, she pondered and surrendered to God. You, too, can cultivate a habit of pausing for a moment of prayer before responding to challenges, making decisions, or starting your day. Like Mary, pause, ponder, and respond with trust, even when you don’t understand.
Stay faithful in the ordinary
Washing dishes, folding laundry, answering emails...these "chores" may feel insignificant, but when done with love and a heart turned toward God, they become sanctified and holy moments. Mary embraced the ordinary, and through it, God’s extraordinary plan unfolded.
Remain close to the Eucharist
If you can attend Mass, do so. If not, make a spiritual communion. Let this be your anchor point.
Choose trust in uncertainty
Mary did not have all the answers when she said yes, and neither do you. But you can practice surrender by trusting that God is working through the unknowns of your life, even when you have no idea what the outcome will be.

A Solemnity in the Midst of Lent

Today, we celebrate. Right here, in the middle of Lent, the Church gives us a solemnity, a moment to pause, to rejoice, to receive. This is the beauty of the liturgical year.

We fast… and we feast.

We repent… and we rejoice.

And both are essential to a stable, grounded spiritual life.

So today:

enjoy a good meal
share joy with those around you
receive this interruption to your Lenten sacrifices as a gift

Because even this reminds us:

We don’t have to understand everything. We are invited to trust the One who is leading.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Like Mary, I desire to say yes to You. Not just once, but in the steady rhythm of my daily life.

Help me to trust You, even when I do not understand. Help me to remain faithful in the small things, and to return again and again to the Eucharist, where You strengthen and sustain me.

Give me the grace to live with simplicity and stability, to trust what You are doing in the hidden places, and to carry Your presence into all that I do. May my life become a quiet, faithful yes, just like Mary’s.

Amen.

simple recipe From Catholic Culture: Occasionally this feast day occurs during the Lenten season. When it does we might recall that some beautiful words from the Epistle of the Mass on Assumption Day, another feast day dedicated to Mary, call her "exalted like a cedar in Libanus, a cypress tree on Mt. Sion, a palm in Cades, a rose plant in Jericho; a fair olive tree by the water, a sweet smell like cinnamon and aromatic balm, a sweet odor like the best myrrh." What, then, could be more appropriate than spicy cookies, wafting their fragrance through the house as they bake?

With that in mind, here is the recipe for St. Hildegard's recipe "Cookies of Joy"

Makes up to 12 dozen cookies!!!

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups butter
3 cups Rapadura/coconut sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
6 cups spelt flour
2 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
2 1/4 teaspoons nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cream butter and sugar with electric mixer (Hildegard likely did this by hand!)
Add eggs and mix until combined
Combine dry ingredients and add to butter mixture. (optional - refrigerate for an hour)
Place a tablespoon scoop on stoneware pr parchment lined cookie sheet.
Press flat with the bottom of a bowl or glass.
Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.
Cool for a few minutes and place on cooling racks.
Hide them and use only as directly, 3-5 a day!
READ THIS CUTE BLOG POST FROM THE PAMPERED NUTRITIONIST (where this recipe came from)