God waited for Mary to say “yes“

The “yes,” or the fiat of the Virgin Mary was not pronounced by a dull or sleepy heart, but by a lively and watchful one. Even if uttered by a humble young woman, this spousal “yes” is the expression of a simple and profound heart. Mary is the Mother of God not only because she gave physical life to Jesus, but also because before conceiving Him in her womb, she listened to Him with her ear and conceived Him in her heart. She is Mother because she listens and welcomes the Son and lets Him live like He is, not just because she gives Him birth and holds Him in her lap. Mary’s “yes” was the expression of the freedom of this pure Virgin, fruitful and conscious of belonging to a history—a great history—that was bringing God into the world.

A fact is historical not only because it occurs in time, but also because it occurs in a place.

The time is indicated as follows, “It was the sixth month from the conception of Saint John the Baptist by Saint Elizabeth.” Now, a six-month-old is not complete. John the Baptist represents the Old Testament and the promise. It is important to take note that the Annunciation fulfills the promise ahead of time.

When does the fulfillment happen? At the sixth month, namely when the promise is not yet mature. That, in my opinion, means that the realization of a promise depends not only on God. God has made the promise, He could fulfill it immediately, however He does it at the sixth month, He only waits for someone to say “Yes, let it be done unto me as you have said, I welcome the Word.”

In short, God has been forever saying “yes” to man. When finally we also say “yes” as Mary did, then the fulfillment takes place. We become mature and complete people when we say “yes” to God. Do not wait for tomorrow to say “yes.”

Monsignor Francesco Follo

Adapted from an article published in Zenit, 2014