As Father Aquinas reminded us this morning in his homily, God always initiates. He makes the first move toward us, always the Giver of all good gifts. Like Mary, we are invited in our freedom to respond to God's initiatives and invitations. We want to be more and more continually attentive to all that the good God desires for us. When we say yes to all God offers, we may become like Mary – Christ-bearers.
Of her flesh he took flesh:
Of her flesh he took flesh:
He does take fresh and fresh,
Though much the mystery how,
Not flesh but spirit now
And makes, O marvellous!
New Nazareths in us,
Where she shall yet conceive
Him, morning, noon, and eve;
New Bethlems, and he born
There, evening, noon, and morn—
Bethlem or Nazareth...
Though much the mystery how,
Not flesh but spirit now
And makes, O marvellous!
New Nazareths in us,
Where she shall yet conceive
Him, morning, noon, and eve;
New Bethlems, and he born
There, evening, noon, and morn—
Bethlem or Nazareth...
Fragment from the poem, The Virgin Mary Compared to the Air We Breathe by Gerard Manley Hopkins.
