I keep losing track of when the reading from St. Bernard falls in the liturgical calendar. I always remember that it's in the Office of Readings, but I keep thinking it's from the feast of the Annunciation. So I was pleasantly surprised to encounter it this morning during my prayer time.
I love the idea that all of creation throughout all of history is waiting on the response of this betrothed maiden of Nazareth. Bernard doesn't take it into the future, much, focusing more on the parallels with the past of salvation history, but it is easy enough to think of all of us who have ever lived anticipating her reply, even those of us for whom it occurs in the past.
There is an interesting paradox in the idea of omniscient God submitting his entire plan of salvation to the Virgin's response, and likewise to his submitting his plan for each of us to each of our own individual wills. I'm appalled by all the times I say "no," in the moment, rather than granting my fiat. Yet God meets me in each moment, offering me another opportunity to let it be done to me according to his divine will.
No comments:
Post a Comment