The Humility of God
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Among the infinite means God has at his disposal to establish his glory, the most effective is joined to humility. This we see in the mystery of the Annunciation. God wrought this great and glorious miracle when “Christ Jesus,” as St. Paul said, “emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.”
We do not meditate on this subject to satisfy a vain curiosity; we do so that we may come to love holy humility, the fundamental virtue of Christianity, by learning of God’s love for it. The Son of God became man so that his Father might see in him a submissive and obedient God.
Let us see how much God loves humility. O divine act of obedience by which Jesus Christ began his life, new sacrifice of a submissive God, in what temple will you be offered to the Eternal Father? Where shall we see for the first time the marvelous spectacle of a humiliated and obedient God? It will be in the womb of the Blessed Virgin. This will be the temple, this will be the altar on which Jesus will consecrate to his Father his first vows of obedience. And how does it come to be, O Divine Savior, that you should choose this Virgin to be the sacred temple in which you will adore your heavenly Father with such profound humility? It is because this divine temple is founded upon and sanctified by humility. The Word, emptied and abased, willed that humility should prepare his temple. There was no fit dwelling place in the world for him except within the one that had been consecrated by humility.
The angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive the Son of the Most High, the King and Liberator of Israel. Who would think that a woman would be troubled by such good news? Could she receive a more glorious hope or a more magnificent promise on better authority? An angel told her of it on God’s behalf. Nevertheless, Mary was troubled. She was afraid. She hesitated. Then she replied: “How can this be, since I have no husband?” She was anxious for the purity of her virginity. If I should conceive the Son of the Most High, it would truly be a great glory for me, but what shall become of my holy virginity? I cannot consent to lose it. O marvelous purity, you are not only proof against all human promises, but also against the promises of God! For what do you wait, O Divine Word and chaste lover of pure souls? When shall you come to earth, if this purity does not attract you? But you must wait, for your temple has not yet received its finishing touch. The angel responds to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” He will come, that is, he has not yet come.
Let us now attend to the Blessed Virgin’s next words: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” It is apparent that her humility is speaking here; this is the language of obedience. Mary does not exalt herself in her new dignity as Mother of God. She does not allow herself to be transported by joy; she declares only her submission. And immediately the heavens open, torrents of grace fall upon Mary, the floodwaters of the Holy Spirit cover her, and the Word makes himself a body from her most pure blood. “The power of the Most High will overshadow you,” and this Son that he eternally engenders in his being, he now engenders in the womb of the Blessed Virgin. How can such a great miracle occur? It is because of your humility, O Blessed Virgin, that you are the first to receive, and within your very self, the One who is destined for the whole world. You become the temple of the Incarnate God, and the humility that fills you has made this dwelling place agreeable to him, so that, by a particular grace, he has willed that for nine whole months you should possess as your very own the common good of the entire universe. How true it is that humility is the source of every grace, and that it alone can attract Jesus to us.
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
O God, who willed that your Word should take on the reality of human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that we, who confess our Redeemer to be God and man, may merit to become partakers even in his divine nature. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
