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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Mary, the "masterpiece" of "God’s grace", is a model to imitate "by listening to the word". Pope Francis, during his general audience in the Paul VI Hall, continued the cycle of catechesis on the theme "Jesus Christ our hope", speaking about the history of the proclamation of the Gospel and highlighting "the listening and willingness" that Mary shows to the word of God, a word that comes "from on High" and transforms everything.
The Evangelist Luke, at the beginning of his Gospel, shows "the effects of the transforming power of the Word of God", "which reaches not only the halls of the Temple", but also "a village that is never mentioned in the Hebrew Bible: Nazareth", at that time "it was a small village in Galilee, in a remote area of Israel, a border area with the pagans and their contamination".
Here, the Pope explained, the angel Gabriel, "whose name refers to the power of God," brings "a message of an entirely unheard-of form and content, so much so that Mary’s heart is shaken." Instead of the classic greeting "Peace be with you," Gabriel addresses the Virgin with the invitation “Hail!”, “rejoice!”. This, the Pope stressed, is "an appeal dear to sacred history, because the prophets use it when they announce the coming of the Messiah (cf. Zeph 3:14; Joel 2:21-23, Zec 9:9)", but it is also "the invitation to the joy that the Lord addresses to His people when the exile ends and the Lord makes His living and active presence felt."
The other aspect of this unusual greeting is the unknown name with which God calls Mary, "a name of love: kecharitoméne, which means “filled with divine grace”. Mary is full of divine grace", which, the Bishop of Rome continued, means that "God’s love" has "already for some time inhabited, and continues to dwell in Mary’s heart", so much so that "God's grace" has " accomplished in her an inner engraving, making her His masterpiece". The loving moniker, which God gives only to Mary, is immediately accompanied by reassurance: "Do not be afraid". Words, according to Pope Francis, that God addresses to all those to whom he entrusts important tasks, "to Abraham, Isaac and Moses". "And he says it to us too: do not be afraid, keep going. “Father, I am afraid of this”; “And what do you do when…”. “I am sorry, Father, I will tell you the truth: I go to the fortune teller”. “You go to the fortune teller!”. “Ah yes, I have my palm read…”. Please, do not be afraid! Do not be afraid! Do not be afraid! This is good", added the Pope.
In the angel's announcement, the mission that God has entrusted to Mary is revealed, who "resounds in her heart numerous biblical passages referring to the kingship and messianic nature of the child that must be born of her, and that the child will be presented as the fulfilment of the ancient prophesies". "The Word that comes from on High calls Mary to be the mother of the Messiah, that long-awaited Davidic Messiah. She is the mother of the Messiah. He will be king, but not in the human and carnal manner, but in the divine, spiritual manner. His name will be “Jesus”, which means “God saves”, reminding everyone forever that it is not man who saves, but only God".
Mary, the Pope concluded, "is shaken to the core", but "as the intelligent woman she is, thus capable of reading into events, she tries to understand, to discern what is happening to her. Mary does not look outside, but within". And so "she welcomes the Word in her own flesh, and thus launches the greatest mission ever entrusted to a woman, to a human creature...". "let us learn from Mary, Mother of the Saviour and our Mother, to let ourselves open our ears to the divine Word and to welcome it and cherish it, so that it may transform our hearts into tabernacles of His presence, in hospitable homes where hope grows".
In greeting the many pilgrims who have come to Rome, the Pontiff's thoughts went to America: "I want you to know that in my heart I am with the people of Los Angeles, where the fire that is still raging has destroyed entire neighborhoods and communities," said Pope Francis at the end of his general audience. "May the Virgin of Guadalupe intercede for all the inhabitants so that they can be witnesses of hope, through the power of diversity and creativity for which they are known throughout the world," Pope Francis said.
Finally, the Pope called for prayers for peace in war and crisis regions and in this context mentioned, in addition to the Middle East, once again Ukraine and Myanmar. "Yesterday I called the parish in Gaza, I do that every day. They were very happy. 600 people are there, members of the parish and the college. They told me: 'Today we ate lentils with chicken.' Something they are no longer used to in these times... They were very happy!", reported Pope Francis at the end of his general audience. "War is a defeat. And who benefits from war? The weapons manufacturers," he added. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 22/1/2025)
