The Madonna del Parto by Piero della Francesca (Monterchi) Luke 1:26-38: [26] In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, [27] to a virgin betrothed to a man of the house of David, named Joseph. The virgin's name was Mary. [28] came to her and said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." [29] But she was troubled and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. [30] And the angel said to her: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God [31] are to conceive a son, and you shall call his name Jesus [32] will be great and called the Son of the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father [33] and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will never end. "[34] And Mary said the angel, "How is that possible? I do not know man. " [35] And the angel said: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, on you will overshadow the power of. One to be born will be called holy, the Son of God [36] See: Elizabeth, your relative, in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren: [37] is nothing impossible with God. " [38] And Mary said: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord done to me according to your word. " And the angel departed from her.
Dear friends, dear friends,
Sunday, December 22, 2008, we will celebrate, according to the Ambrosian rite, the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us at this liturgy as Christmas to look to the Word of God across the board.
In the first reading (2 Samuel 7,1-5.8-12.14-16), in fact, there are two characters as you seek, as taken from both a deep affection: King David and the Lord his God David after wandering from one tent to another during the wars that had claimed, now lets take the desire for a more stable home and safe. But while he has the opportunity to live in a house of cedar, the ark of the Lord is still in a tent. This is why David calls the prophet Nathan to consider what can be done to give the Lord a house more dignified.
But at this point goes into action the Lord: "you to build me a house for me to live?". He does not like being in a too rigid and stable home for your first home is where are the men. With their coming and going. With the instability and uncertainty, including housing, which often characterize them. The Lord reminds David that had fallen in love of his people when he was still a small tribe of nomads. But if now David want to live in a more stable home, then David will not build a house, but rather, "a house will make you the Lord."
Certainly, the desire of David is very noble, but the dream of God is greater. Moreover, there is no religion that has not tried to put God in the heart of things (everything is full of the ancients said), on top of a hill within the walls of a temple or church. But it is going a step that only God could have designed it. In fact, God is no longer enough to live 'close' to us, with us. He wants to live rather than 'inside' of us. We are faced with the mystery that is not only the closeness of God to man, but dell'inabitazione or incarnation of God in man. Already
the story of God, which binds so closely to the people of Israel hints at the depth of his affection for men who find concrete expression in a people. But now an ark is not enough. It is not enough emotional closeness. In the heart of God is fired with the desire to make people a real nuptial union, capable of generating the world His Son.
As if God himself, as a great lover, you access through this question: What can I do better for all humanity? For this, risking a true lover, he decided, looking to Mary, to launch his most grand strategy, as long as love is fulfilled in us forever. At Christmas, before being in front of the unique availability of Mary, we are asked to stand before a God, just love her.
This testifies to the beginning of the Gospel (Luke 1:26-38): "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to the house of a man named Joseph. The virgin's name was Mary. " By Mary gather, then, all the passion of love that God has for every man. In Mary, God may be gathered, provided only for love of humanity.
But it is clear that God chose Mary as equipment, because then he could become the mother of His Son. His is, rather, a genuine act of free love. Choose, ie, Mary simply because it is her, Mary.
But how to implement a plan like this? We would say, typically in a language our own: how to write a nice letter, send a messenger. In this way all the staff notation, place and circumstances, it seems necessary elements of an address that the 'Angel Gabriel "must be followed precisely," a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed a man of the house David's name was Joseph. The virgin's name was Mary. "
God he loved a woman like Mary would cause some reaction in our thoughts a bit 'moralizing. Even, perhaps, some hidden jealousy. In fact, the sequence of the Incarnation of God among his men following, with great consistency, the route by which a man after he approached with love to a woman, for her and wish her the gift of a child. For this, just in the flesh of Mary, Jesus, the Son of God, took flesh of man.
The inestimable value of the action of Mary in the project of incarnation of God among men is evidenced by the evangelist Luke, who notes with precision even his first reaction to the greeting of the angel: "But she was troubled and wondered what kind of greeting this might be." This justifies the disturbance in his experience of love that characterizes the encounter between God and Mary. As a genuine emotional experience, not rhetoric.
Gabriel realizes his state of mind, is careful to say, "Do not be afraid, Mary, explained in more detail the terms of the situation:" Because you have found favor with God. " E ', in fact, only the fruit of grace what is happening, unconditional love, pure presence, "the Lord is with thee." Then, This means the exceptional closeness of God with human fact better than ever can happen to a woman: "Here, you will conceive a son, and you shall call his name Jesus." For this reason, therefore, to anxiety and the announcement also follows a heartfelt question, typical of those wanting to begin to understand, however, already relies on: "Then Mary said to the angel: 'How is this possible? No husband '. " Even the intelligence, in the wonder of grace, seeks to take part of a joy so great.
Mary is not afraid, but aware of the fact that God was definitely involved. In her body is taking the biggest dream of God More who think of God, Mary is now talking with Him Feeling mother is already talking with that Son of God himself has given us.
The direct application of Mary leads us, rather, a new way of relating to God and thinking. If she is the new ark of the covenant between God and men, as God can take shape in the love of man and a woman?
The response of the angel is, at the same time, God alone is deeply human: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, on you will overshadow the power of. One to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. " So Mary allowed herself to finally have from God in their own terms in which God wanted to have, realized as a woman with the gift of divine maternity. For this, there is no reason to resist: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord done to me according to your word."
The new understanding of God that Mary opened, already ahead of the full membership of His Son Jesus to His Father's will: when, from the cross, cry the ultimate meaning of his existence: "It is finished" (Jn 19 , 30). The Divine Maternity of Mary introduces us all to be already in the obedience of the Son's love.
Dear friends, dear friends, the celebration Liturgy of the Nativity of Jesus is upon us. So let there be peace in your hearts. Both light of hope in your eyes. This is the 'best wishes to each of you.
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