Advent 3: How can it be?

The angel's visit to Mary is a moment of such mystery

that poetry, music & art only begin to capture it.

But what of God's daily arrivals into our lives? Are our eyes open to the shimmer of angel's wings? Do we hear the announcements of holy glory blazing around us? Henri Nouwen reminds us that we, too, are the beloved of God: favored, even chosen, for sacred callings. And that we are not alone.

"Mary"

We see so little, stayed on surfaces,

We calculate the outsides of all things,

Preoccupied with our own purposes

We miss the shimmer of the angels’ wings,

They coruscate around us in their joy

A swirl of wheels and eyes and wings unfurled,

They guard the good we purpose to destroy,

A hidden blaze of glory in God’s world.

But on this day a young girl stopped to see

With open eyes and heart. She heard the voice;

The promise of His glory yet to be,

As time stood still for her to make a choice;

Gabriel knelt and not a feather stirred,

The Word himself was waiting on her word.

{Malcolm Guite}

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