Une Minute avec Marie
Faire connaître et aimer Marie
The time of Advent is a time during which we are invited to contemplate Mary, a young girl among many others of Nazareth, a simple creature of humble condition. Mary could have directed her freedom elsewhere, legitimately saying ‘no’ to the mysterious proposal of the Angel Gabriel, the Messenger of God. And God would certainly have respected this freedom, for God created us to be totally free, and He wants us to be free so much so that we can even say ‘no’ and shut the door of our hearts to him. ... And yet Mary answered, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let everything be done for me according to your word" (Lk 1:38).
Mary’s response is a free adherence to God’s will—to God’s loving project. It is not a ‘yes’ of convenience to get rid of a disturbing messenger, as it often happens in our lives when we agree to something just to be free of a bothersome person, without any free adhesion on our part. In addition, Mary's response is not motivated by fear or apprehension in the face of possible punishment. ... Mary's ‘yes’ is truly an agreement with the Creator. It is a free, conscious and unconditional adherence to a project coming from Almighty God.