Nothing is Impossible with God

Do you sometimes wonder if God can use even you? Imagining Mary in the Annunciation helped Patty Breen see the “both-and” of life—the beautiful and the difficult, sometimes messy side of things that God enters and transforms with his Spirit. In this episode, she tells of the value of Ignatian meditation on Scripture and shares how seeing the humanity of women like Martha, Bathsheba, and Mary Magdalene gives her hope in following God.

Patty Breen is a lay minister and a writer, speaker, and retreat leader who uses storytelling to connect to people’s hearts. She holds a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. You can find Patty on Instagram @mspattyanne_ or on her website, patriciabreen.net. Patty writes for Catholic Match and National Catholic Reporter and contributed several reflections to the Living the Word Catholic Women’s Bible.

Take Patty’s favorite Scripture to your next Holy Hour

Pray: Come, Holy Spirit, open my heart and mind to hear your word today.

Read the Word: Luke 1:26–37

(Read it in your own Bible to get the context, and so you can make notes)

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be.  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 

and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;

and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 

And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I have no husband?” And the angel said to her,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
the Son of God.

And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.  For with God, nothing will be impossible.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Ponder the Word: Read several times, lingering where it touches your heart. What catches your attention? What do you hear the Lord saying to you?

Pray with the Word: Bring to the Lord what you have heard, and talk to him about it. Ask for his grace. Thank him for his loving care.

Live the Word: How does what you read touch your life? What can you do this week to put it into practice?