| The whole world awaits Mary's reply |
|---|
You
have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have
heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel
awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God who sent him. We
too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of
condemnation weighs heavily upon us.
The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall
be set free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all
came to be, and behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be
remade in order to be recalled to life.
Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of
you, O loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise. Abraham begs it,
David begs it. All the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it of
you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what
the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet. It is right in doing
so, for on your word depends comfort for the wretched, ransom for the
captive, freedom for the condemned, indeed, salvation for all the sons
of Adam, the whole of your race.
Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel,
or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive
the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a
passing word, embrace the eternal Word.
Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give
praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident.
This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this
matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though
modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open
your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to
the Creator. See, the desired of all nations is at your door, knocking
to enter. If he should pass by because of your delay, in sorrow you
would begin to seek him afresh, the One whom your soul loves. Arise,
hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and
thanksgiving. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done to me according to your word.
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