Nativity of the BVM

For some strange reason I had always imagined that the annunciation occurred as Mary is washing the floor.  The scriptures do not hint at this, and most probably there were no floors of that era, but alas the image remains.  Maybe it is because floor washing (and I mean kneeling on the floor with a scrub brush) is hard, dirty, and it can be painful.  Mary is so very much like us.  There was fear and confusion in regards to the call to be the Mother of God.

But Mary was unlike a lot of us in that she was a woman of contemplation and reflection.  While she is human, she is also prepared to be the Theotokos, or God bearer.  She lives in the midst of political oppression and even religious fanaticism, and yet remains a faithful believer in the ways of God.  Perhaps this is why from the earliest days of the Church Mary is seen to be a model of faithfulness, and even today continues to be our advocate and guide.  Her 'Yes' changes human history, but also challenges us to give our 'Yes' in lesser matters.

In today's Gospel we read from the genealogy of Joseph from Matthew's Gospel.  Some of the folks there were very good, while others not so much so.  What is common for all of them though is that they struggled with a faith life.  We are told that Mary keeps things in her heart, and ponders upon them.  Faithful men and women reflect on the what and where God is calling us to do.  In our celebration on this feast of Mary we come to understand that God speaks to humanity through very human instruments.  We too have a place in the story of salvation.

To be sure Mary is not a theologian or religious leader.  She is a woman of deep faith who trusted in God's faithful words; allowing them to be conveyed in her very self.  The really has to be the challenge to us.  That is our very being is called out to proclaim the greatness of God.