On this, the eve of the Annunciation, when we commemorate the appearance of the angel Gabriel to Mary and his good tidings to her, I thought I'd revisit a poem I wrote and podcasted last year, re-recording it as well. I listened to the old recording recently, and not having read the poem in some time, I found that it impressed me in the way the best poems should. I owe much of it to biblical imagery and Orthodox Christian hymnody, but I think that the main point is something we tend not to stress, Mary's agency, Mary's free will. Not only does she question what the angel says, recalling sarah and her laughter in Genesis, but she has to agree before the miracle can take place. She has to "let God have leave to live within her," which is what we all have to do, and as we all also often do, she could have said no.

This will be my first time celebrating the Annunciation on what is technically called The Revised Julian Calendar, and I still have a special love for the Old Calendar date, but no matter when it's celebrated, this is one of my favourite feasts of the year, even though it often gets lost in Lenten things. Only when Mary said yes did Christ come to dwell in her. It's really a beautiful notion!

Evangel Answered

She came like cloud to drop dew upon a sun-dry desert,

And bring the brighter sun whose rays green the ground.

She sang of truth eternal, and in splendid state was borne away and buried,

Yet went to wonder’s welcome in the warmth of living love.

And as the moon, sun-silvered, lights the way for night-wanderers,

So she, all gilded with the gleam of God’s own glory,

Holds out her hallowed hand to help and heal

The traveller who trusts to her true and tender care.

And yet, all could have been otherwise,

If she had not with maiden lips let God have leave

To live within her, immortality made mortal by her humanity.

With that amazing “Amen,” she became the prince’s portal

And the seven-pillared court of Christ!

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