and enter Mary, quite the radical Woman of her time!!!
Throughout this Blog I end the posts with the word Fiat! which translated from Latin to English states “let it be done.” Each time I use the word, what exactly is my context? Certainly, I am reminiscing Mary’s words to the Angel Gabriel referred to above, “be it done to me according to thy word.”
However, what is Mary saying? Is she saying to Gabriel,” that though I am not currently married, and have professed virginity out of love for my Lord, and don’t know any way I could conceive a baby, I will do as you say, I will obey! Or is she saying, “Hey Gabriel, I have followed the prophecies, I would love to be around when the Messiah is born, although I am unworthy to be His mother, I’ll help in any I can…wait, did you say I AM TO BE HIS MOTHER, Whoa, this is pretty wild and crazy, but I trust in you, and am overcome with excitement, and just DO IT! Let’s GO FOR IT!
In an article, https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2015/12/wishing-for-gods-plan-marys-fiat-in-luke-138, by Sarah Klitenic Wear, she notes that the selection of the word Fiat and the contextual manner it is used actually implies ACTION on Mary’s part, more than simply submission. Mary is saying “would that it be done” or “I wish it would be done.” Given the facts that we know above about Mary’s single situation and professed virginity, this is actually pretty wild, crazy radical for the humble Mary to spring forward and speak! Almost like Mary is being handed her Nike Olympic uniform, and she accepts it with the proverbial “Just Do It!” But think about it, would we expect anything less from the woman whom is to be the Mother of the Messiah, the Queen of Heaven, the crusher of Satan and the Mother of us all?
I don’t think so! In fact, the Annunciation demonstrates that Mary’s commitment to the Lord sets a pretty high bar for all of us to follow! So as we honor Mary on the Feast of the Annunciation, for her crazy radical acceptance to the will of God…Let us realize that the Annunciation is directly igniting a pivotal event in Salvation history, that is asking, “Now that you know, the Messiah is coming, now that you know the Messiah has been born, Now that you know the Messiah has died for all of our…of my sins, risen from the dead, will you stand idly by? be lukewarm excited? worry about this next Sunday? or will you be radical for your Lord, and when it comes to what He asks, will you respond, Let’s Do IT!?
My Life according to Your words Jesus, Let’s Do It!
Sarah Wear notes that “Mary is braver than a concession—her response to something divinely terrifying is to hope for it. Her response is radical and wild. This use of the optative genoito underscores the difference between a mother of seven sighing, sweating, cursing under her breath as she reluctantly obeys God’s plan and a saint—for, it turns out that the holy hear God’s plan and wish for it.”
Fiat!
Fiat!