Justin Appel

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today’s Gospel lesson is from the first chapter of Luke, which recounts the story of the Annunciation: the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her the news that she will bear a son, and that 1) his name would be Jesus, 2) that he would be the Son of of the Most High, 3) that he would be the heir to the throne of David, and 4) that his reign would last forever.

Furthermore, in response to Mary’s question, ‘How shall this be?’ Gabriel draws a picture that is reminiscent of the creation scene in Genesis, when God’s Spirit hovered over the waters. Here, the Spirit of God will overshadow Mary, and the human race will be renewed (‘re-made’?) through the incarnation of God’s eternally begotten Son, Jesus, who will be conceived in Mary’s womb.

John Tavener’s economic anthem Annunciation puts the dialogue between the angel and Mary in central view. Mary’s words are sung softly, in the distance, by a quartet of voices. Tavener suggests they should be located in a raised gallery, and he describes her response as characterized by ‘humility, terror, and total acceptance’. To her refrain ‘How shall this be’, the main choir responds with a resounding ‘Hail’, each of which becomes stronger and build up to a ‘thunderous, awesome Theophany’.

Significantly, after the final response of the angel, ‘Blessed art thou among women’ Mary’s gentle question concludes the anthem, leaving the tension between promise and fulfillment to be resolved in the future.

This work beautifully summarizes the feeling of anticipation, excitement, and even of fulfillment of the present moment — while we still feel Mary’s surprise, question, and humility. It’s that ‘already/not yet’ sense that permeates the liturgical calendar, this Advent season, and in a real way, the whole of our lives.

Yours in Christ,
Justin

ANNUNCIATION, John Tavener

How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

Hail! Thou that art highly favoured.
Hail! The Lord is with thee.
Hail! Blessed art thou among women.
- Luke 1: 34, 28