You have heard, O Virgin, that you
will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by
the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to
God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the
sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us. The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set
free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all came to be, and
behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be
recalled to life.
Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you, O
loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise. Abraham begs it, David begs it.
All the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it of you, as they dwell in
the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole earth waits for,
prostrate at your feet. It is right in doing so, for on your word depends
comfort for the wretched, ransom for the captive, freedom for the condemned,
indeed, salvation for all the sons of Adam, the whole of your race.
Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or
rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of
God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace
the eternal Word.
Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise,
and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time
for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent
Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing,
dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed
Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. See, the Desired of all
nations is at your door, knocking to enter. If he should pass by because of
your delay, in sorrow you would begin to seek him afresh, the One whom your
soul loves. Arise, hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in
praise and thanksgiving. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done
to me according to your word.
Lines from a Sermon by our Father, Saint Bernard.
Lines from a Sermon by our Father, Saint Bernard.