It’s not easy to imagine the Annunciation. We don’t know for certain what happened or how Mary experienced God’s extraordinary communication. Medieval paintings are beautiful but often depict an exalted event, far from the mess and chaos of human reality. If Mary was at home the domestic setting would be simple, full of the banal, everyday features of a girl’s life in a humble environment. Perhaps she saw the solid figure of an angel, or perhaps this happened in a dream. Perhaps it began as an inner whisper that gathered and grew into something clear and unmistakable. What we do know is that Mary’s first reaction was to ask questions: How can this be? Why me? How can I be sure? How will I manage? These are questions many of us have grappled with at crossroad moments in our lives.
—Excerpted from Sacred Space: Retreats & Reflections |
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