Women- God's Masterpiece

Last night I began listening to Woman, God's Masterpiece by Christopher West.  This has been on my wish list for a long time, and my friend just found her copy and lent it to me. 

It.  Is.  Beautiful.

Woman, God's Masterpiece- Understanding and Living the Feminine Genius. 

Even the name gets me excited!

Why yes, yes we are God's Masterpiece- the crown jewel of His creation.  He DID save the best for last!  :)  This is based on Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body, which he studied and taught for the first five years of his pontificate, and his encyclical "Mulieris Dignitatem" or the Dignity and Vocation of Women. 

There are many points I want to reflect on, but one in particular that touched my soul. 

In the garden of Eden, Eve was naked without shame.  She walked with the Lord and was intimate in her friendship with Him.  She had every reason to trust Him explicitly.  And yet, Satan's first three words brought doubt into her heart.  "Did God REALLY...?"  The implication?  God's holding back.  He doesn't want the best for you.  He's not really love.  He wants to Lord over you as a tyrant and slave-driver.  He doesn't want you to be like Him.  Eve fell, and we all deal with the consequences.

In direct contrast to this, Mary, though living in a world of sin and suffering, when asked to be the blessed mother of Jesus, gave her FIAT-  (Latin for "Let it be done.").  I've always considered her great FIAT to be at the moment of conception, but Christopher West points out the temptation she must have suffered to continue her fiat at the cross.  Can't you imagine people at the foot of the cross both begging and taunting Jesus to come off the cross?  Jesus rebuked Peter for such a thought in preparing for the ultimate sacrifice.  I can only imagine the pain and confusion that our Lord's mother must have felt to see her son rejected, tortured and dying.  She must have wanted to SCREAM for Him to reveal His glory.   She MUST have been tempted to doubt those same three words, "Did God really...?"  Did He really intend for this to happen?  Would a God who is Love allow His son to be treated like this?  If so, will He treat ME any better?   And yet, she did not give into these temptations.  Mary looked on as her son was crucified, and continued to give her fait- Let it be done according to thy word- and the whole world bears the fruit of this redemptive sacrifice.

As I listened to this reflection, God spoke to my heart.  He showed me that He has given me the grace to trust His goodness and love for me in regards to our infertility.  It would be easy- SO easy- to doubt.  But how can I doubt His love for me when I have seen what He is willing to do for me?  He has taken my place, gone to hell and back and given up His life for me.  No.  I KNOW that God loves us both and has us in His grip of grace.  I know that if He is saying "no" or "wait" it is for a reason, and I know He can, will and IS bringing fruit from our daily fiat.  

"Let it be done to me according to thy word."   ~Luke 1:38