Dear Participants,

Welcome to Day Three! Today, we will focus on Mary's consent and what are the implications for us.

Let's assume that, since we're here, we do believe in another better world. Displaying this confidence is all good, but we need to be actively involved for things to move. The Annunciation cannot be accomplished and become a reality without a human "Yes."

That Heavens are a reality is not enough; that God is good and almighty isn't either. What is essential is for Him to join humanity in its flesh. We are not talking about a purely intellectual faith anymore, but rather a real implication of His entire self: God needs Mary in order to reach us. Another world, the Kingdom, is in preparation, and whether it will come or not depends solely on Mary.

It is the same for us. The Kingdom of God is prepared without any action on our part, but for this Kingdom to become a reality on Earth, God needs us. 

Mary believes. She agrees that the occurring events are linked to the Tradition, the plan of God. She accepts God's presence and doesn't try to flee. Imagine how impressive this should have been! Why would she believe? Why would she even listen? After all, Gabriel barged into the room of a teenager, who was deeply troubled by this encounter!

Mary knows the prophecies. For her, it's only theoretical, but all of a sudden, those prophecies become very concrete. So very concrete that she finds herself directly implicated! The confidence that the Kingdom is here validates her impetus: Fiat.

To read the signs, we are invited to delve into the Scriptures. Only a deep inner life can allow us to understand the signs, to apprehend the contradictions without anguishing doubts; Mary's faith is continuously lived in opposition, as we saw yesterday: the virgin who gave birth, the Messiah who died on the Cross...

We tend to limit ourselves to a purely intellectual faith, it is more comfortable and can bring peace of mind and serenity. But then, we shouldn't expect the ability to move mountains and radically change our lives. 

Are we to receive faith only when it is a standard part of our landscape? What happens if faith tries to pull us further? Are we to stay at an intellectual level? Why not try to upgrade to existential faith, which is an answer to God's proposal? Then, even if we become a mystery to ourselves, we can rest assured that we are personally associated with the mysterious destiny of God: each one of us has his place in God's plans.

Let us pray:

In the presence of all the heavenly court, I choose you this day, for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to you as your slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present, and future; leaving to you the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to your good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and eternity. Amen. 

Artwork: Maria, by Sieger Köder.