The Annunciation solemnity unravels that thanks to the “yes” of Mary, the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, has been set free to save us! Elizabeth, Mary’s kinswoman, confirmed this truth by her blissful lips: “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (Luke 1, 45).
In Søren Kierkegaard’s words, Mary’s obedient faith became a “passion for the impossible”. Her resolute acceptance of God’s will made her walk on the water of fear and unbelief. For the Church Fathers, Eve, mother of all living, seized and lost. Mary, the new Eve, submitted and received. Eve rejected the fascinating mystery. Mary embraced it.
Mary’s yes is an exuberant joyful expression of thanksgiving to the Lord who “has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden” (Luke 1, 48). The Church Fathers detected in Mary’s fiat the bride’s ardent desire to be kissed by her bridegroom: “O that you would kiss me with the kisses of your mouth!” (Cant 1, 2).
Commenting on this exciting verse, the mediaeval Benedictine exegete, Rupert of Deutz, writes: “What means this cry, so loud, so startling? An overflowing joy, O blessed Virgin, a powerful love, a rush of delight wholly seized you, wholly captured you. It intoxicated you deep within, so that you perceived ‘what eye has not seen, nor ear heard, and has not entered into the human heart’ (1 Cor 2, 9), and you said: ‘Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth’. For to the angel you said: ‘Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to your word’ (Luke 1, 38).”
Mary’s request to be kissed “with the kiss of his mouth” is totally enshrined in her loving response to the kiss of God the Father when, through the archangel Gabriel, he announced to her that she was to mother his Word, Jesus Christ (see Luke 1, 30-33).
Rupert of Deutz further remarks: “Was not this word from the angel a word and promise of the kiss of the Lord’s mouth as even now at hand? … Just as you heard and believed – just as you said in making the request, ‘be it unto me’ – so it has happened for you. God the Father has kissed you with the kiss of his mouth”.
If, as Nicholas of Lyra comments on the bridegroom’s kiss, when “God would show himself favourable to me by signs and deeds, as a bridegroom does to a treasured bride”, he kisses me with the kiss of his mouth, would I return my passionate kiss to Him by believing and obeying his invitation, as Mary did?