“The Word became flesh.” ~ reflex on Lk 1:26-38
Today we bow down before a great mystery: the Incarnation. The simple words of the Gospel convey a Truth that would be unbelievable if it were not revealed to us so clearly. This mysterious truth is that the omnipotent, infinite God leapt down from the heavenly throne (Wisdom 18:15) and became man within the womb of a young virgin in an obscure village, in order to set us free for life in Him forever.
Gabriel’s announcement expresses something and someone absolutely unique: the Davidic King whose reign will have no end, the Messiah who will save humankind from their sin, the One who will fulfill every prophecy about the House of Jacob, will be conceived by this grace-filled virgin.
The very Word of God will become flesh to dwell among us (Jn 1:14).
How? Invisible to human eyes, the Holy Spirit will come upon this young girl, and she will be overshadowed by the power of the Most High – a power that does things that seem impossible to us, but which does not annihilate us. A gentle omnipotence, ever working with mighty calm to save us, heal us, set us free, and draw us into His love and life.
Mary, “full of grace” from her own conception, understands her role in God’s plan of salvation and in the name of all humanity, for the sake of all humanity, her heart bursting with love and humility and desire for all to be saved and God’s will to be done in all things, says yes to this plan and all it will demand of her. She cannot see all the details, but she knows the Scriptures well enough to know that it will cost her much to be mother to the Suffering Servant who comes to save us. But she cannot say no to the One her heart loves.
Her courageous and generous “yes” reversed Eve’s selfward “no” and opened the way for Christ to undo all the damage done by Original Sin. Her yes was spoken for all of humanity, to make it possible for all humanity to be set free from the ancient curse of sin and death. As we hear her humble fiat, we rejoice that God keeps His Promises, that Mary is the Mother of God and our Mother, and that Jesus came to save us.
Let us ask Mary, the perfect model of complete openness and a ready “yes” to whatever the Spirit moves within her, to go before the Throne of Grace and intercede for us, that we too might give our courageous and generous “yes” to whatever God asks of us.