Word to the Wise
Friday, March 25, 2011 - March 25 - The Annunciation of the Lord
[Isa 7:10-14; 8:10; Heb 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38]Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.
The name of the feast is the Annunciation of the LORD, but I would wager that those who know the feast think first of Mary! Maybe it is because a pregnant mom is the center of attention in our culture till the baby is born and then the baby takes center stage. The subject is a favorite of artists and I've seen some remarkable and beautiful renditions of the event (including one in a church in New Iberia, LA which depicts Mary at a table with a strange look on her face, and the face of the angel in the background.) The painting by Dominican artist Fra Angelico is one of the most famous. In all cases, the focus is on Mary!
The quotation from the gospel, however, tells us in Mary's own words that the event is bigger than she. She becomes a willing participant in a far broader plan for salvation and the baby she will give birth to will be "Son of the Most High!" Perhaps I am projecting, but it seems to me a big enough thing for a woman to become pregnant - but to have to worry about the incredible status of the child later on just adds to the stress! Yes, Luke is telling a theological story here, but I can't ignore the drama of the moment! The "theology of it all" is very important, but the "humanity of it all" makes the feast more attractive to me. Incarnation means human messiness. Will he have her eyes and nose? How did God work the DNA in this event? Oh, the questions could go on and on and really spoil her moment of puzzlement and joy and fear, etc. "What HAVE I done?" That question receives an initial response nine months later on December 25th. AMEN
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