The Annunciation by Caravaggio
Here, Mary is visited by Gabriel who tells her
of her blessed summons - that she has found favor
with God, and will conceive, and will bear the Son
of the Most-High...
In her chapter on "A Meaningful Life" Sister Wendy Beckett writes:
"We long for reassurance, our own personal angelic visit,
the removal of obstacles, the certainty of fulfillment".
She writes that for Mary, what follows is:
"it will be a life of loneliness and poverty,
with her son dying a criminal's death
and the only solace her faith".
Now, when I read this, I was quite struck by the idea
that Mary's life was "a life of loneliness and poverty".
And yet, to me, the idea that, because there was
no room for them in the inn,
Jesus was born where the animals were sheltered...
when, because of who He was - the Son of God -
He could've been born in the finest of places!
I find such significance in this!!!
That Mary was found to be 'highly favored',
and yet, her circumstances were humble...
When I put this into perspective, what I see
is that it is not a shameful thing to be 'poor',
even though, those that are, are often treated as though
they are less than others.
I find comfort in this...
I can relate withMary's life,
that was "a life of loneliness and poverty"...
and "the only solace her faith".
I agree with Sister Wendy Beckett when she writes that
"We long for reassurance... the removal of obstacles...
the certainty of fulfillment",
and that for life to have meaning,
"it can come from a determination
to do what is right"...
for I have felt that "determination"...
I have also felt the weight
of trying to live up to the kind of life
that our society deems 'a success'...
...that is a most burdensome weight
and it is time to let that weight fall away.
