1. "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." (Lk 1:38) W Just like he did for Mary, God wants to show us, too, the plan he has for each one of us. He wants to help us know our true identity. It’s as if he were asking us, “Would you like me to make a masterpiece of you and your life? Then follow the way that I show you and you will become what you have always been in my heart. In fact, for all eternity I have thought of you and loved you. I called you by name. By telling you what I want from you, I am showing you your real self.” Say “Yes” to God which means that in every moment we do really well whatever He is asking of us. So to pay close attention to whatever we are doing, putting aside everything else in that moment, leaving aside all our worries, desires, memories or activities. No matter what the will of God is for us – painful, joyful or indifferent – we can say, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Or we can also use the words Jesus taught us in the Our Father, “Your will be done.” So, before every action, let’s say, “Your will be done.” That’s what happened to Lucia from Italy... Play & Learn WORD OF LIFE 3 Print out the next page and put a mark on the little cloud every time you manage to say: “Your will be done.” “YOUR WILL BE DONE” In depth... The words of Mary can be our answer of love to the love of God. These words keep our hearts always directed towards God, listening to him, obeying him, having only one desire - to do his will, so that we can be what he wants us to be. To live the Word of Life this month we can: During a meeting of the Young for Unity I felt the presence of Jesus very strongly and he was asking me to choose him as my Ideal in life. I understood that everything had to change – I had to love everyone, and especially my parents. Ever since I was very little, I had suffered a lot because they were always fighting. I felt very alone, as if no one cared about me. Then they got a separation and I only saw my dad once a week. As the months went by, I got sadder and sadder and often stayed in my room, crying. I felt the pain was too much for me to bear. When I got to know the Young for Unity I met God, who is Love. I realized I had to respond to him by loving. I started taking the first step towards others. When I was with my dad, I got interested in his job and what he was doing, and when I was home with my mom, I tried to find lots of ways to love her. I also tried to love them by taking their sufferings on myself. I thought of Jesus on the cross who didn’t give up, and I found my strength in him, moment by moment. After a while I saw the relationship between them gradually changing. Now, when my dad comes to pick me up, he doesn’t just ring the doorbell, but comes upstairs to talk to my mom who welcomes him – even with a smile! We can tell one another about when we each said our “Yes” to his Love. And yet sometimes what he asks us can seem absurd. We think it would be better to do things differently, and we would like to take our life into our own hands. We might even think we can give advice to God! We want to be the ones to tell him what to do and what not to do! But if I believe that God is Love and trust him with all my heart, I can be sure that whatever he plans for me and for those close to me is for my good and theirs. From a commentary by Chiara Lubich – Adapted by the Gen 3 Center

2. “YOUR WILL BE DONE” Put a mark on the little cloud every time you tell God, “Your will be done.” Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… Day: ……… “YOUR WILL BE DONE” Put a mark on the little cloud every time you tell God, “Your will be done.”