The Annunciation
Mary and the whole future of creation
I was speechless the first time I read Frederick Buechner's imagined account of the annunciation.
She struck the angel Gabriel as hardly old enough to have a child at all, let alone this child, but he'd been entrusted with a message to give her, and he gave it.
He told her what the child was to be named, and who he was to be, and something about the mystery that was to come upon her.
"You mustn't be afraid, Mary," he said.
As he said it, he only hoped she wouldn't notice that beneath the great, golden wings he himself was trembling with fear to think that . . .
. . . the whole future of creation hung now on the answer of a girl.
(Frederick Buechner Luke 1:26-35 published in Peculiar Treasures)
It was that last line that drew such emotion and amazement from me that my inner joy just wouldn't let me speak.
the whole future of creation hung now on the answer of a girl.
And here's how she answered ... Let it be with me just as you say.
I didn't stop to question Buechner's notion that Mary's willingness to bear this child was critical to the whole future of creation simply because ...
I’d learned that this child was both human and divine (hypostasis)
I’d learned that this child was in a union with that creation (incarnation)
I’d learned that what became of this child, therefore, would happen to that creation (vicariousness)
I’d learned that this child would die, be raised up and ascend to the heavenly places (incorporation)
that in that dying, that creation would also die
that in rising, creation would be made new
Behold, I make all things new ... Jesus (Mary's child)
... he only hoped she wouldn't notice that beneath the great, golden wings he himself was trembling with fear to think that the whole future of creation hung now on the answer of a girl.
And I’m simply awestruck!