THE MAGNIFICAT
2. He has mercy upon those who fear Him, from generation to generation.
Here is another delicate touch of humility. Mary rejoices that God's Mercy shed on Her should also be shed on others. All that God has done in Her soul, He will likewise do to all who fear Him. She does not want to be the only one. She is pleased to announce that everyone can have a share in God's bounty.
How human it is to want to be the first, and much more to be unique! But true humility is never exclusive, never ambitious, never jealous of the good of one's neighbor. All this might be quite human, but Mary is God-like and consequently She does not act that way. She does not think that way.
Moreover, She says that this mercy and bounty of God will reach far out to all those who fear the Lord. She does not here speak of servile fear which is that of slaves but rather that of reverential and loving fear shown by children. She refers to that holy fear of God mentioned in the Holy Writ as the beginning of wisdom, and therefore the beginning of sanctity and the foundation of love. Fear and love; both are inseparable when referring to God. We must fear with love and we must love with fear. Fear of yourself, of your sins, of your relapses, of your miseries, of your little gratitude, of your want of correspondence to grace. How good is God towards those who fear Him! How good must He be towards those who love Him!
Fear His justice, but, above all, love His bounty. Trust in His mercy and you will see the words of Mary fulfilled in yourself.
Rejoice at having a God so merciful, Who out of mercy refuses nothing to any one. Strive with all your might in order that through your penance, through your love you may be able to spread this Kingdom of Bounty and Mercy not only within your own soul but to the whole world, including in it all the just, the lukewarm and even the greatest sinners, in whose souls the light of God's infinite mercy is not still shining.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
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