9 December 2013 - before the foundation of the world

9 December 2013 - before the foundation of the world

“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

We see that Our Lady is uniquely blessed.  But why?  And how can anyone be filled with grace before the death and resurrection of Jesus on the cross? 

We hear the angel say:

“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.

Favor?  Is that fair?  Our hearts begin to soar because we sense that our redemption is at hand.  But can we allow ourselves to feel this?  Doesn't favoring of one come at the expense of another?  With God it is the opposite.  Individual blessings make us in turn blessings to others.  This has always been the whole purpose of Israel to whom God promises that "through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."  Let us allow our hearts to exult in the blessings given to Our Lady.  She is "blessed among women" but this so that she can be a blessing for all women and for all mankind.  She is the highest honor of our race not simply to elevate her above us but that we may have recourse to her.

She receives these blessings in anticipation of the Cross and Resurrection.  But is this even possible?  Absolutely, because God is not bound to any one point in time.  Therefore he chooses Mary not just before the Cross but indeed "before the foundaiton of the world to be holy and without blemish before him."  It is through her that we are blessed "in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens".

This plan of God is first seen in Genesis.  Eve is meant to be the mother of all the living but falls short.  Yet here already we see that the plan of redemption is in God's heart.

I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.”
Mary's offspring are, explicitly, "those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus" (cf. Rev. 12:17).  It is these that are truly "the living".  Mary is the one through whom the blessings of life eternal are offered to the world.  In her yes, her fiat, enabled by the Holy Spirit, is the necessary response to God's initiative.  God gives her the freedom to make this response where all before her can only respond in part.  It is only possible for us to respond to God's call together with her.  The response that welcomes Jesus into the world is the one which she makes.  But we are allowed to share it with her.  We confirm her choice with all of the little yeses we say to God. Her yes ensures salvation is available to all the world because we are allowed to share it.  This is the victory of God.  Let us praise him for it. 

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.