Mary in the Midst of Israel's Waiting (VII)

"I shall make you a light to the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" (Is 49:6) The eager expectation felt by the Virgin, in the midst of her own nation Israel, is also a longing felt by the whole world and all the nations, as the prophet Isaiah forcefully reminds us in his messianic oracles: "I have shaped you; I have made a covenant of the people and a light to the nations" (Is 42:6). "It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel; I shall make you a light to the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth" (Is 49:6). "Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to you" (...) "The abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of the Lord" (Is 60:1-6). "His empire shall stretch from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth" (...) "May his name be blessed forever, and endure in the sight of the sun. In him shall be blessed every race in the world, and all nations call him blessed (Ps 72:1-17).