16 The Virgin of the Annunciation (after 1440) Stefan Lochner (c. 1410-1451), oil on wood, 102.8 x 55.9 in. Exterior panel of the Altarpiece of the Three Kings, Germany, Cologne Cathedral, Germany In an interior hung with brocades, a very young girl, a wonder of delicacy and reserve, is surprised in splendid humility as she kneels in prayer before a book of the psalms. The painter has captured this “most blessed among women” at that singular instant when, the angel having told her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you,” she responds, “May it be done to me according to your word.” At her feet, the book of the Old Testament lies henceforth closed, symbolizing the veiled presence of the Word of God already sown in the heart of this daughter of Zion. In this moment chosen by the artist, time seems suspended before the immensity of this event, before the book of the new covenant is opened, before the unimaginable takes place, before the Word begotten, not made, takes on a body and a face in the womb of this daughter of Eve. He will be the new Adam. In the new creation, he will transform sin into grace. In this apocalyptic instant when the Eternal comes to inhabit the temporal, Lochner invites us to pause and contemplate this woman as she was when she came forth from God in the morning of her original splendor. The “yes” of Mary, daughter of Zion, is pure and simple,1 unencumbered by any ifs, ands, or buts. Sarah laughs when the Lord promises her a son;2 Zechariah has serious doubts too.3 But Mary believes. And yet it is even more improbable that she should be chosen from among all women to become the mother of the Messiah than that they might bear children in old age! Like all of us sinners, Sarah and Zechariah first consider the difficulties from the human perspective, unable to see beyond the rational improbability of the fulfillment of the divine promise. But Mary places her faith in God, whom she knows to be merciful and abounding in love.4 She is unafraid before him for whom nothing is impossible.5 And yet, she is not above the need to satisfy her intellect. “How can this be?” she quite naturally asks the angel.6 His response demonstrates the extent to which God respects the queries of the rational mind he created. Faith itself generates the questions to which God’s answers, in turn, provoke a further deepening of faith. Through contemplation of the mystery of the Incarnation of Christ, let us ask Mary to teach us the simplicity of her beautiful faith—the pure faith of true sons and daughters of Abraham, a faith unobscured by incredulity, skepticism, or fear of the future—the luminous faith of the Theotokos, the chosen Mother of God. 1- Lk 1:38 2- Gn 18:12 3- Lk 1:20 4- Ps 145:8 5- Lk 1:37 6- Lk 1:34 Prayer God our Father, who willed that at the angel’s Annunciation your Word be made flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, we beseech you to answer our entreaties. As we truly believe her to be the Mother of God, may our Lady’s prayers to you bring us your aid. Through Christ our Lord.
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