The moment was on her unaware:
the Angel in the room, the impossible demand,
the response without reflection. Only one
word of curiosity, echoing Zechariah’s How?
yet innocently voiced, without request for proof.
The teen head tilted in light, the hand
trembling a little at the throat, the candid
eyes, wide with acquiescence to shame and glory—
“Be it unto me as you have said.” Luci Shaw “Announcement”
“How will this be, since I’m a virgin,” the young girl asked.
The angel’s answer:
“...the power of the Most High
will overshadow you...” (Luke 1:35)
But didn’t it seem too much to ask
of one small virgin
that she should stake shame
against the will of God?
All she had to hold to, later,
were those soft, inward
flutterings
and the remembered surprise
of a brief encounter—spirit
with flesh.
Who would think it
more than a dream wish?
An implausible, laughable
defense. Luci Shaw “Too Much to Ask”
Alone again, the chosen one kneels trembling,
shaken to silence, stunned by blazing light,
...mesmerized by that unfolded plan, those words...
...weeks spread into months,
...questions festered into doubts...
Faces turned away when she stepped into rooms
or slipped into the synagogue alone on her side
across the room from Joseph....
Her parents too turned away,
not believing the unbelievable.
What could she say?
What should she do?
Where should she escape? Marie Post “Mary”
Luke writes: “At that time Mary … hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zacharia’s home and greeted Elizabeth.” (Luke 1:39-40)
She shared her feelings with Elizabeth
who recognized her coming as a sign…
… Excitement filled their talk
As though each babe was calling to the other.
High dreams of Israel’s hope burst into song:
the joy, the mission granted to a mother.
Children to be prepared for great events
that those who bore them might not comprehend.
How much it meant to share the faith, the fear,
the anticipation with a trusted friend. Thomas John Carlisle, Beginning with Mary
If Mary had sung her song of songs
with our accustomed un-magnificence
and dearth of urgency,
all the commitment/all the charm
and all the challenge/and anticipation
would have been completely dissipated.
O sing anew/anew/anew
the simple song/which magnifies/rejoices
dares to vision/the fall of kings,
the exaltation/of the small
unviolent/ trusting and faith-full
servants/ of the spectacularly creative God. Thomas John Carlisle
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