Showing posts with label annunciation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label annunciation. Show all posts

Sunday, December 18, 2022

4th Advent 2022, Become . . .

 4th Advent

Luke 1:26-38 

Martin Schongauer
During the sixth month, the angel Gabriel
was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the maiden's name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." 

But she was confused at those words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord your God will give him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And his kingdom will have no end."

 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I have not known a man?" 

And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word of God will be impossible." [For no word is spoken by God that does not have the power to become reality on earth.]

And Mary said, "Behold, the Lord's handmaid; may it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. 

4th Advent

December 18, 2022

Luke 1:26–38  

“No word is spoken in the worlds of the
spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.” Luke 1:37 
 

In the beginning, God spoke. “Let there be…” he said. And gradually, all of the created world appeared. And with it, there arose, as its centerpiece, the human being, made as a picture of God, made to be, like God, a creator. God’s word, spoken in the world of the spirit, became earthly reality. 

To Mary and Elizabeth, God spoke again and conveyed His words through His messenger Gabriel. “You will conceive and bear a son.”  And it happens—both the virginal and the barren become fruitful. Because no word is spoken in the world of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on the earth. 

Today God speaks again to all of us. He speaks but a single word, but a word of infinite and varied possibilities: 

“Become.” 

To creation, to fruitfulness is added the impetus of becoming, of changing and evolving, of metamorphosis. Just what we are to become is left unstated, for that choice has been handed over to us. 

Oleg Shuplyak
As humanity, we are no longer virginal and simple. But we have eons of human history, human experience, and accumulated wisdom to advise us. And we are made in God’s image. We can accept the task with Mary’s humility. We can receive this seed-word into our souls. We can conceive it, in our being, in our actions, and in our understanding. 

Just after the incident described in today’s gospel, Mary rises up and sets out on a journey to join her kinswoman Elizabeth. So we, too, having heard the word, can set off along a path to join others, to do the work of becoming, of developing, of transubstantiating. Now it is not only we who are to change. Now it is our task to help metamorphose creation. We are to transubstantiate bread and wine into God’s body and blood. We are to convert earthly matter into matters of the spirit for the help and healing of all the earth.

 https://www.thechristiancommunity.org/location-search/ 


Sunday, December 20, 2020

4th Advent Homily 2020, It is Good

 2nd, 3rd or 4th Advent

Luke 1:26-38
 
During the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the maiden’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

Fra Angelico
But she was confused at those words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
 
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord your God will give him the throne of David, your father.
And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And his kingdom will have no end.”
 
And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I have never known a man?”
 
And the angel answered and said to her,
 
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.”
 
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the Lord’s handmaid; may it be to me according to your word.”And the angel departed from her.

4th Advent Sunday
December 20, 2020
Aivasovsky
Luke 1:26-38
 
"In the beginning, when God/Elohim began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And Elohim's Spirit Breath fluttered over the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light.' And there was light. And God saw that the light was good." Genesis 1:1-3
 
This beginning of creation describes how the empty, watery darkness is warmed and moved by God's creative spirit-breath. Something similar is announced to Mary by the angel Gabriel: "The breath of the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and (like a cloud) the dynamic power of the Most High will overshadow you. Because of this, the offspring born of you will be called Son of God." Luke 1:35
 

The same Spirit-Breath,
Henry Ossawa Tanner

the Word of God that brought the world into existence, now brings forth, within His Creation, from His creature—himself, the Light of the world. An astonishing inversion!
 
Mary's response is threefold: At first, she is greatly troubled. It is perhaps not so strange that the soul begins to ripple and shudder as the Spirit-Breath begins to breathe over its depths. And then, almost equally amazingly, she begins to question. She ponders the 'how.' The underlying tentative soul gesture here seems to be: can I move with this? Go along with it? This is the soul beginning to open.
 
The third part of her response is assent. She humbly aligns her will with the greatness of God's purpose and intention. It is a great purpose, for this is nothing less than the beginning of a new creation. For with Christ Jesus, humankind would be given a new ancestor. Just as Adam was the mortal body's forefather, so is Christ, the new Adam, the Adam of the immortal human soul and spirit.
 
The first creation came into being
Iris Sullivan
simply because God said so: "Let there be"…and it was so. But the second creation requires human cooperation and participation. Mary is the archetype of the human soul willing to do its part to make the world new. But hers is likewise a soul that asks for the light of understanding, for she questions, wondering where and how she fits in. The explanation that God wants to create His Son through her opens her soul.
 
Awed fear that stimulates questioning and finally assent—this is the path of the soul as it joins in God's plans. In this second creation, God's Spirit-Breath says, "Let my Son, the Light of the World, be born through you." And there is light because the human soul is willing to seek it, generate it, give birth to it. And God sees that the Light is good.

Sunday, December 22, 2019

4th Advent 2019, The Angel in You

4th Advent
Luke 1: 26-38

Martin Schongauer
During the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the maiden’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was confused at those words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the most High,
And the Lord your God will give him the Throne of David your father.
And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
And his kingdom will have no end. “

And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I have never known a man?”
And the angel answered and said to her,

Fra Angelico
 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth."



And Mary said, “Behold, I am the Lord’s handmaid; may it be to me according to your word. “And the angel departed from her.

4th Advent
December 22, 2019
Luke 1:26-38

Sulamith Wulfing
Besides our earthly mother and father, we each have another set of parents. Our other mother is the earth. From her substance, we have built the house of our body. And we have a ‘sky father’ who has sent our spirits down to be housed in the body. And to accompany us, the Father has sent with us a constant companion. This companion, who is ever with us, who is ever awake, ever inspiring us, suggesting, whispering to us, is our own angel.

This angelic companion has been with us forever. It carries the book of our life, with the arc of the storyline we were asked to write, its chapters our many lifetimes, both past and future. Our angel is our guide and companion; it has joined its own destiny inextricably to ours.

Not all of us have as dramatic an angelic encounter as Mary does in the gospel reading. Nevertheless, Gabriel’s words are echoed by our own angel, who whispers to us: ‘The Lord is with you! The Holy Spirit will come upon you.’ Luke 1:28 and 35

Our community also has its own angel. It, too, announces to us that the healing spirit will come upon us. It is up to us, like  the Mary-Soul, to create the inner quiet, the moments of openness. It is up to us to awaken, to listen, to notice, so that it can indeed happen. ‘For, as Luke says, ‘no word is spoken in the world of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.’ Luke 1:37 

Tissot
And the poet Rose Auslander says:

The angel in you
Rejoices over
Your light
Weeps over your darkness

Out of his wings whisper
Words of love
Poems, tender affection

He watches over
your path

Direct your step
Angelwards.*


*Rose Auslander. “The Angel in You”


Sunday, December 9, 2018

2nd Advent 2018, Accept or Refuse

Conrad von Soest
2nd Advent
Luke 1: 26-38

During the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the maiden’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said her, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was confused at those words, and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the most High,
And the Lord your God will give him the Throne of David your father.
And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
And his kingdom will have no end. “
And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have never known a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; And for that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the Lord’s handmaid; may it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.


2nd Advent
December 9, 2018
James Janknegt
Luke 1: 26-38

"Annunciation"
Denise Levertov

We know the scene: the room, variously furnished,
almost always a lectern, a book; always
the tall lily.
Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings,
the angelic ambassador, standing or hovering,
whom she acknowledges, a guest.

But we are told of meek obedience. No one mentions
courage.
                  The engendering Spirit
did not enter her without consent.
                                            God waited.

She was free
to accept or to refuse, choice
integral to humanness.

Henry Ossawa Tanner

Mary is the archetype of the human soul. And annunciations come to all of us. Even in barrenness, our own souls, too, can conceive. We can absorb accurate conceptions of Christ. We can open ourselves to how He wants to be conceived in us. We can make our souls virginal, incapable of harm and receptive for God's healing Spirit so that we can bear Him within. And we can say yes or no to whatever God sends as personal destiny, as community destiny, as world destiny. We can agree to serve His purposes in humility. Or not.

Christ wants to be born in us. His angels draw near, whispering words of great moment and encouragement. And as angels always say when they approach, 'Do not be afraid. The Lord is with you.'

God is waiting. We are free to accept or refuse.



Sunday, December 10, 2017

2nd Advent Sunday 2017, My Spirit Rejoices

2nd Advent
December 10, 2017
Bruchsal 

Luke 1: 26-56

During the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the maiden’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said her, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was confused at those words, and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High,
And the Lord your God will give him the Throne of David your father.
And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
And his kingdom will have no end. “

And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I have never known a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;

Visitation, St. James Altarpiece
And for that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.”

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the Lord’s handmaid; may it be to me according to your word.“

And the angel departed from her.

2nd Advent
December 10, 2017
Luke 1: 26-56

We are approaching the sunset of the year. As the days grow shorter, we may find ourselves becoming more contemplative. But at the same time our souls are drawn outward. At sunset, the angels of color weave in grandeur, and we are elevated by the slowly changing interplay of color. Our souls can expand in gratitude for what we are allowed to experience.

SB Whatley
In intimate but mighty pictures, the Gospel reading describes a cosmic sunset—the descent of the Sun-God into humanity. The soul of the young Mary soul opens in question and assents in humility. Afterward, she does not remain in her chamber but will rise up to go out and visit her aged cousin Elizabeth. Elizabeth, although old, is also experiencing a descent in her expectancy of John, the one who will himself be a kind of angelic messenger, the baptizer of Christ Jesus. Angels interweave. Mary brings with her the nearness of the Lord to quicken John. Elizabeth feels joy and gratitude. Both souls, young and old, expand in praise. The Lord’s nearness inspires Mary’s great hymn of praise, the Magnificat:

My soul grows great in praising you, O Lord of Life.
My spirit rejoices before you, O bringer of Healing. 

Mary represents what humankind can feel now: His approach, His nearness. We anticipate in praise. For every sunset implies a coming sunrise. At Christmas, at midnight, the light of the Sun-God will shine again in the darkness. We can already sense the coming Light. Our souls grow great in praising Him because His approaching power of Light creates lightness in us.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

4th Advent 2016, Have No Fear

2nd 3rd or 4th Advent
Annunciation, Rogier van der Weyden, WikiCommons
Luke 1: 26-38

During the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the maiden’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said her, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was confused at those words, and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the most High,
And the Lord your God will give him the Throne of David your father.
And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and his kingdom will have no end. “

And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have never known a man?”

Visitation, van der Weyden
And the angel answered and said to her,

 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;

And for that reason, the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.”

 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the Lord’s handmaid; may it be to me according to your word. “

And the angel departed from her.




4nd Advent
December 18, 2016
Luke 1: 26-38

An angel of the Lord comes to Mary. He tells her not to be afraid. She will conceive. She will bear the Lord's Son. This will happen through the creative, engendering power of God's healing Spirit. Mary's response is to humbly declare herself to be God's servant. She assents to the will of the spiritual world.
Annunciation, James Janknegt
Mary is the archetype of the soul of humanity. Our souls, must not be afraid. Our souls, too, can conceive. We can take in accurate conceptions of Christ, and how he wants to be conceived in us.  We can make our souls, virginal. incapable of harm and receptive for God's healing spirit. We can bear Him within. And we can say yes to whatever God sends as personal destiny, as world destiny, and agree to serve His purposes in humility.

Christ wants to be born in us. His angels draw near, whispering words of great moment and encouragement. And as angels always say when they approach, 'Do not be afraid. The Lord is with you.'

Sunday, December 20, 2015

4th Advent 2015, Mortal Good

4th Advent
Luke 1: 26-38

Fra Angelico
During the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the maiden’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said her, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was confused at those words, and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the most High,
And the Lord your God will give him the Throne of David your father.
And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
And his kingdom will have no end. “

And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have never known a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her,

 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;

And for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For no word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.”

 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the Lord’s handmaid; may it be to me according to your word. “

And the angel departed from her.



4th Advent
Luke 1: 26-38

As the great day approaches, we remember back to how it all came about: the angel announces to Mary that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most High God will overshadow her like a cloud. And thus she will give birth to the holy.

Mary represents the soul of each of us. Ever and again there come to us moments when the holy, healing spirit of the Father’s love comes over us. His power surrounds us, overlights us in a bright cloud; and we are enabled to bring forth something, perhaps a kind, encouraging word, a rescuing deed, a creative solution, something holy and healing.

Descent of Holy Spirit
This comes about more easily through our contemplative openness of soul and our willingness to serve. This is how the Son of the Most High is born through us; how His kingdom is extended in and through our lives; how His glory and power work in us. In the words of Wendell Berry:
A child unborn, the coming year
Grows big within us, dangerous,
And yet we hunger as we fear
For its increase: the blunted bud
To free the leaf to have its day,
The unborn to be born. The ones
Who are to come are on the way,
and though we stand in mortal good
Among our dead, we turn in doom
In joy to welcome them, stirred by
That ghost who stirs in seed and tomb,
Who brings the stones to parenthood.[1]


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[1] Wendell Berry, A Child Unborn, the coming year; To Mary


Sunday, December 7, 2014

2nd Advent 2014, Barren Souls Impregnated

2nd, 3rd or 4th Advent
Luke 1: 26-38

Fra Angelico
During the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a maiden engaged to a man named Joseph of the descendants of David, and the maiden’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said her, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

But she was confused at those words, and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus.
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the most High,
And the Lord your God will give him the Throne of David your father.
And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
And his kingdom will have no end. “

And Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have never known a man?”

And the angel answered and said to her,

 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;

And for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.  For no word is spoken in the worlds of the spirit that does not have the power to become reality on earth.”

 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the Lord’s handmaid; may it be to me according to your word. “

And the angel departed from her.


2nd Advent
December 7, 2014
The Awakening, Thomas Gotch
Luke 1: 26-38

Today we hear the story of the pure soul of humanity. The angel announces that she will be over-lighted by the power of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Love. This warm light, shining into her soul, will define what will be born of her. What issues forth from her will be the Son of God. This will come about because God’s Word, which is also God’s Son, has the power to create earthly realities.

The virginal soul has its legitimate earthly questions: how shall this come about? But the angel makes clear that there is a higher order and purpose at work in this event. Even barren souls can become fruitful. And so she submits herself to a higher ideal. And she humbly says yes to the working of the Word of God within her.

Once again, at this time of the year, the angel approaches our barren souls. For each of us has, deep in our hearts, a pure and innocent core. Once again the angel speaks to all of us God’s words of His approach, of His wish to enter us. Individually and collectively we are called upon to be impregnated by God’s Spirit of Love. In hope the angel awaits our response: May it be unto me according to Your Word.