Mary’s Turmoil

Simone Riva - Today is the birthday of the Virgin Mary, the woman before whom every word becomes fact, every speech event, every thought reality. Our Lady, in fact, not only allows the Word of God to clothe our flesh, but also allows the whole of history to come to life.

There is an initial fear that accompanies the Virgin's yes to the Archangel Gabriel's announcement. St. Bernard describes it in these words, “It is proper for virgins, who are truly such, to be always fearful and never sure, and to avoid dangerous things, they are on their guard even where there is no danger, knowing that they carry a precious treasure in vessels of clay, and that it is supremely arduous to live as angels among men, to walk on earth in the likeness of the inhabitants of heaven, and to lead a chaste life in mortal flesh.

And therefore whatever happens again or suddenly makes them suspicious, as if there might be hidden in it a snare, a trap laid against them. That is why Mary also became upset at the Angel's speech. She became upset, not agitated.”

What really troubled her? I think seeing so many people, around her, falling into the trap of power despite having noble intentions, despite being called to great deeds. The Virgin presented, in her agitation, the loneliness of her Son before all the escapes of men because of power.

It is as if in her heart appeared in an instant all the reverberation of God's sorrow when even one of His children turns his back on Him to settle for crumbs. In her virginity was the possibility of a new humanity, no longer seduced by the enticements of the ancient Adversary, for this reason she did not fret.

He had sensed that no longer were enough leaders willing to do anything to defend the people from their enemies, and that the time had come for the only one who could save from sins. He did not expect that everything could start with his yes. He did not come to terms with the fact that everything he sensed in himself that was strange was finally finding fulfillment.

St. Bernard continues, “You have found what you were looking for, you have found what no one before you has been able to find, you have found grace with God. What grace? Peace between God and man, the destruction of death, the restoration of life. This is the grace you have found with God.”

Today we can picture her as a baby in the arms of Joachim and Anna, unaware of all that would happen to her. We can hear her cries, see her smiles, hear her groans. And then contemplate those two parents who, though never appearing in Scripture, are one of the most decisive presences - like all grandparents - for Jesus' life. Never mentioned and yet always present.

This seems to be the path proposed by God, and in this groove is Joseph's silence and Mary's own extreme discretion. Jesus is not born into a family where there is a need to be noticed, but where each is glad for the presence of the other.

What a jarring contrast to our world, where it seems that we are all waiting for a little false move to take out the opponent, to denigrate him, to eliminate him, flailing in that terrible motto: “Mors tua vita mea.”

In reality, we know very well that this is not so: the death of the other also demands our own. May this day of amazement help us to recover the simplicity of the beginning, though veiled by disturbance, but not crushed by agitation.

Unrevised translation by the author. Published on IlSussidiario.net
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