YOU HAVE HEARD TODAY, brothers, an angel having a
discussion with a woman concerning the repair of the human being. You have
heard that the purpose was for the human being to return to life by the same
course by which he had fallen to his death. An angel has dealings, yes, has
dealings with Mary concerning salvation, because an angel had had dealings with
Eve concerning destruction. You have heard about an angel constructing from the
mud of our flesh a temple of divine majesty with ineffable skill. You have
heard that in a mystery that exceeds our understanding God was placed on earth,
and the human being was placed in heaven. You have heard that in an unheard-of
manner God and man were mingled in one body. You have heard that the frail
nature of our flesh was strengthened by the angel's exhortation to bear God in
all his glory.
2. And so, in order that the fine sand of our body
in Mary not give way under the excessive weight of the construction from
heaven, and that in the Virgin the thin twig not be broken which was about to
bear fruit for the benefit of the whole human race, the voice of the angel
spoke out right awav so as to banish fear with these words: Do not be
afraid, Mary (Lk 1.30). Before the matter at hand, the Virgin's dignity is
made known from her name, for Mary in the Hebrew language is translated
"Lady." Therefore, the angel calls her "Lady," so that any
trepidation coming from being a servant may depart from the Lord's mother,
since the very authority of her offspring caused and mandated that she be born
and called a Lady.
3. Do not be afraid, Mary: you have found grace.
It is true: the one who has found grace knows no fear. You have found grace.
Before whom? Before God. Blessed is she who alone among human beings has
been counted worthy to hear these words as applied to her ahead of everyone
else: You have found grace. How much? As much as he had said just
previously: the full amount. And it truly is the full amount which rains down
and over all creation in a drenching shower.
4. You have found grace before God. When he
says this, even the angel himself is amazed either that the woman has found so
much, or that all human beings have found life through the woman. The angel
marvels that God has come in his entirety within the confines of the Virgin's
womb, God, for whom creation, even when considered together in its entirety, is
confining. This is why the angel lingers, this is why he mentions her merit
when he calls the Virgin, mentions grace when he summons her, and has
difficulty explaining the situation to her as she listens; it stands to reason
that it is only with difficulty and a fair bit of anxiety that he finds the
right words to help her to understand this. Consider, brothers, with what
reverence and fear it is right and proper for us to take part in so great a
mystery, when the angel does not dispel the fear of his listener without fear
himself.
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