Very often we read the Bible very sanctimoniously. It is like watching a movie, the end of which we already have seen. We do not see the scene right before our eyes, from that moment's perspective. Our mind always compares it with the last and concluding scene and measures its depth!
The annunciation of Gabriel to Mary too is sometimes seen from this same perspective. We very well know what happened after that and how Mary is today called the 'great', the 'holy' and the 'Immaculate' and all. But for once let us look at Mary in her own times, in her own context, in her own cultural milieu. That is easier said than done. To do this, (and perhaps to show the severity of this event) I propose that we visualize my own sister coming and telling me that she is pregnant with child from the Holy Spirit. What do I do? Believe her? Stand by her? Investigate the whole narration and still not believe?
Or what if one of our faithful parishioners comes and tells the parish priest (you), that he is Jesus Christ? By all practical and objective standards, this person has been good all his life. Would you then accept his statement and start following 'His' instructions? Would you? Or would you try to 'exorcise' him, for after all you are the 'alter Christus'? Right?
Faith is a risk. It does not come in a neat lovely package with some sugar coating. It basically challenges us and throws our regular, accepted, comfortable life totally out of gear. And if we do not want such a thing to happen, yet claim to have faith, then we are royally bluffing ourselves.
Faith in the Word of God that is 'dead' in the Bible is no real faith unless we are willing to see it come alive in our today, in flesh and blood, in fact and in truth. To have such a 'vision' is faith.
(Thought of including a picture of the annunciation, but did not find anything appropriate: all of them depict Mary as already a celestial woman, or in prayer, or just waiting for the divine message... none portraying Mary as an ordinary woman, at work, surprised, 'yet to come to grips with what was being said'!!)
The annunciation of Gabriel to Mary too is sometimes seen from this same perspective. We very well know what happened after that and how Mary is today called the 'great', the 'holy' and the 'Immaculate' and all. But for once let us look at Mary in her own times, in her own context, in her own cultural milieu. That is easier said than done. To do this, (and perhaps to show the severity of this event) I propose that we visualize my own sister coming and telling me that she is pregnant with child from the Holy Spirit. What do I do? Believe her? Stand by her? Investigate the whole narration and still not believe?
Or what if one of our faithful parishioners comes and tells the parish priest (you), that he is Jesus Christ? By all practical and objective standards, this person has been good all his life. Would you then accept his statement and start following 'His' instructions? Would you? Or would you try to 'exorcise' him, for after all you are the 'alter Christus'? Right?
Faith is a risk. It does not come in a neat lovely package with some sugar coating. It basically challenges us and throws our regular, accepted, comfortable life totally out of gear. And if we do not want such a thing to happen, yet claim to have faith, then we are royally bluffing ourselves.
Faith in the Word of God that is 'dead' in the Bible is no real faith unless we are willing to see it come alive in our today, in flesh and blood, in fact and in truth. To have such a 'vision' is faith.
(Thought of including a picture of the annunciation, but did not find anything appropriate: all of them depict Mary as already a celestial woman, or in prayer, or just waiting for the divine message... none portraying Mary as an ordinary woman, at work, surprised, 'yet to come to grips with what was being said'!!)
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