ANNUNCIATION

  A FREE DECISION OF MARY TO ACCEPT THE ANGEL'S WORD.

In the past, the Annunciation was presented as an example of Mary's submissive nature; now, all the emphasis is on the free decision of her to accept the word of God. Mary is not passively engaged by God, but freely co-operating in the work of man's salvation through faith and obedience. "Death through Eve, life through Mary" raises all sorts of difficult questions about the first woman's responsibility for the fall of man ( all humanity), but it also puts woman firmly centre stage.

The Annunciation scene is both moving and uplifting. Mary is one of us, apparently an ordinary Jewish girl, who has enough courage and determination to accept unreservedly a very frightening future. Unlike Zachariah who receives the Angel's news of his elderly wife's pregnancy with understandable doubt, Mary only hesitates until she is in command of the facts. As soon as she understands what is asked of her, she replies,"I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word".

Surely no hero has ever shown more courage. (Rachel Billington)

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