Justin Appel

Dear Friends,

Today is the feast of The Annunciation, on which we commemorate both the announcement of Christ’s birth, and of Mary’s acceptance of her great task.

On this day, we marvel at the inexpressible wonder that God should be incarnate, conceived and born within the womb of the Holy Virgin. Mary’s name, used in the 4th century Liturgy of St James and established at the Council of Ephesus in the 5th century, is Theotokos, that is “God-bearer,” emphasizes that Jesus was fully divine and fully human. Mary’s acceptance of this great role means that her significance resides in her relationship to the God-Man she was graced to carry.

Mary is understood in the Eastern Church as a person who embodies the qualities of the Burning Bush of Exodus, that place where the presence of God rested, and yet which did not burn. St John Maximovitch put it this way, that the Father chose Mary, the Spirit descended upon her, and the Son dwelt within her. Her whole existence thus took on this flame-like quality, though the flame is not her own. What a glorious burden!

Nowadays, Mary’s song, the Magnificat, which is included in today’s readings, could become an anthem for political or social justice, and Mary might be thought of as a revolutionary, fist in the air, standing up for the rights of the oppressed or marginalized. However, Mary doesn’t really fit the description of an activist. Her tremendous status to us lies is bearing Another, with all the sacrifice, nurture, and kenotic love that Motherhood entails. Church tradition also enshrines her willingness, her sacrifice, and obedience to God, holding her up as an example for us all to emulate. Mary is even understood, in a medieval conception, as one who reversed Eve’s mistake—Ave spells Eva backwards—through her “yes” offered to God.

“Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

Yours in Christ,

—Justin