How would we respond to a request from God? Last week, a reading from Genesis provoked thoughts on human impatience in the face of God, who works in incomprehensibly long time frames. Today’s gospel directs our attention in the opposite direction, toward God’s impatience. We cannot be sure why Mary asks her question about her part in bearing the child announced by the angel, but one possibility is that she senses the urgency in the angel’s words. “You will conceive, bear, and name him Jesus.” Mary could be saying, “How can I do all of that right now when I’m not even married yet?” God isn’t really being impatient with Mary. The angel answers her question and waits for her yes. Yet there is a note of urgency in his announcement. The moment of God’s decisive action toward humanity has arrived: now is the time to respond! How do we respond to urgent inspirations in thoughts like “This is the moment to ask for forgiveness…to speak in faith…to offer to help…to give a back rub…to pray”?