Reflection on Making Ourselves Ancillaries

At the end of the Annunciation, Mary gives her consent to be the Mother of God: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38)."  


As you may know, the original language of the New Testament is Koine Greek.  In the late fourth century, St. Jerome translated the New Testament from Greek into Latin.  This Latin translation is called the Vulgate.  In the Greek, the word for "handmaid" is "doule", which means female servant.  St. Jerome translated this Greek noun with the Latin noun "ancilla", which also means female servant.  From the Latin word ancilla is derived the English word ancillary, which refers to something or someone that functions in a secondary or supportive role.  

At the Annunciation (and for her entire life), Mary saw herself in an ancillary or supportive role to what her Son was doing through the Kingdom of God.  She knew God loved her and the world; and she wanted to be a subordinate partner with Christ in bringing his love and goodness to the world.


With Mary, may we taste and see the goodness of the Lord, so we can make ourselves ancillaries in bringing the Kingdom of God to others.