Where Courage Meets Calling: A Lay Reflection on the Immaculate Conception
An excerpt from the lay preaching reflection delivered by ICA Cristo Rey’s Director of Marketing and Communications, Ms. Ria Aquino, MA, at the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Mass.
Today as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, we are invited to reflect on the power of one simple, courageous word: yes.
In Luke's Gospel, Mary’s “yes” was trailblazing. Rooted in deep trust and a yearning for justice, Mary's Magnificat, reveals the voice of a strong, courageous young woman who understood that her willingness to say “yes” mattered not only for her own life, but for the world.
Mother Pia’s “yes,” offered 142 years ago, carries that same courage. Her faith-filled response to God’s call is the reason ICA Cristo Rey exists today. Because Mother Pia acted with courage to move across the country and open a school for girls, generations of students, educators, and families have found a home within our community.
Their stories invite us to pause and ask:
What is your “yes”?
What might God be calling you toward in this Advent season?
Is your “yes” choosing to be a better friend?
Being the bigger person in a conflict?
Committing to a goal, even when it feels challenging?
Choosing kindness when it’s easier to walk away?
A faithful “yes” is never passive. Trusting God does not mean waiting for life to unfold around us. God is not a puppeteer pulling strings, instead God invites us to move, to act, to participate. Faith and action always go hand in hand.
An African proverb often used by the late Congressman John Lewis says, “When you pray, move your feet.” This quote reminds us that every still moment of discernment and contemplation must be followed by prayerful action. We don’t just pray for peace, we bring peace. We don’t just pray for justice, we work for justice. This is where God’s calling meets our courage.
Just as the Angel Gabriel delivered God’s message to Mary, each of us has someone in our life who echoes God’s voice, perhaps a family member, a teacher, a coach, or a friend, someone who nudges us toward a better way of speaking, doing, and being.
This week, inspired by Mary’s courage, Mother Pia’s leadership, and God’s trust in every one of us, I invite you to reflect:
Where is God asking you to be bold?
Where is God inviting you to step forward?
What is the “yes” that only you can give?
May we, like Mary, be strong women. Bold women. Courageous women. Women who say “yes” to something greater than ourselves, and trust that God walks with us every step of the way.