Feast of the Annunciation

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“And she pondered what sort of greeting this might be!” (Luke 1:29)

Most times when we hear the account of the Annunciation in today’s Gospel we are drawn to the words “Hail full of grace! The Lord is with you!” or “How can this be?” or “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” We don’t often stop to reflect on the fact that Mary wondered, pondered what she was hearing. To ponder is to reflect or consider quietly, and deeply.

Andrea della Robbia (1435-1525) was a Florentine artist who used glazed terra-cotta for sculpture. Some of his most memorable work including the Annunciation, can be found at the Sanctuary of La Verna, the place where Francis of Assisi received the Stigmata.

Della Robbia has captured Mary listening deeply to what the angel Gabriel was saying. Her hand is over her heart. She seems to be experiencing, feeling an overwhelming presence of God within her? She appears relaxed, fully present in this moment of encounter with Gabriel. Mary’s pondering, being present in this sacred moment leads her to her fiat, “May it be done to me according to your word.”

Mary’s ability to ponder, to treasure in her heart what she was hearing, is one of the few insights about her that we receive from scripture. Lent is a time for us to ponder, to consider quietly and deeply the sacred experience of God in our lives. With our hand over our heart can we feel God’s presence within us? Can we treasure and be fully present to the amazing, unconditional love of God? Could our pondering lead to our fiat? Can we say:

“Holy is the place within me where God lives…

I have experienced the creative power of God’s embracing arms and I know the cleansing fire of God’s unconditional love.” (Magnificat of Acceptance by Joyce Rupp)

Sr. Marie Puleo, MFIC