"Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it"

This short commentary on today's Gospel by Saint Teresa Benedicta is worth reading and reflecting on.

The decision for the Redemption was conceived in the eternal silence of the inner, divine life. The power of the Holy Spirit came over the Virgin praying alone in the hidden, silent room in Nazareth and brought about the Incarnation of the Savior. Congregated around the silently praying Virgin, (Acts 1,14) the emergent Church awaited the promised new outpouring of the Spirit that was to quicken it into inner clarity and fruitful, outer effectiveness...

In the silent dialogue with their Lord of souls consecrated to God, the events of Church history are prepared that, visible far and wide, renew the face of the earth (Ps 104[103],30). The Virgin, who kept every word sent from God in her heart (Lk 1,45; 2,19), is the model for such attentive souls in whom Jesus' high priestly prayer comes to life again and again.