Hari
OM
Story-day is for cultural exploration, puraanas and
parables and finding out about leading lights in spiritual philosophy.
Feast of the Annunciation of Mary.
In Luke 1:26–39, Gabriel arrives at the home of a young Jewish girl
named Mary, a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, to tell her that she
would become pregnant by means of the Holy Spirit. When the baby was born, she
was to call Him Jesus, a name that means “The Lord Is Salvation.” The angel
also tells Mary that the baby she would bear would rule an everlasting kingdom
and be called “the Son of the Highest.”
This festival of Gabriel's announcement to Mary is celebrated by the
Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. The date of 25th March was
settled upon in the seventh century to tie in with the slightly older (yet
still 'created') festival of Christmas. There had to be nine months, for
decorum's sake!
Irrespective of one's view of 'virgin birth', or the implication
against women's rights, it is important to acknowledge that there was a point
at which a great prophet and leader of men was conceived and that the mother of
such a great one ought to be celebrated also.
One of the ironies is that the presentation of this event is not
dissimilar from many such in Sanskrit literature. There are several tales of
kings or other great personages who are desperate to have offspring, and in
their fervent prayers to the Higher for assistance in this matter, the children appear in one manner or
other which is far from the normal biological process. What is more, each of
those children would go on to great spiritual acclaim of their own. What marked
out the parents was their devotion and dedication to their faith. They would
purify themselves and seek to follow all instruction of their priests and
elders.
Mary is the epitome of purity, from the Christian point of view. She
trusted her elders in her arranged marriage and she trusted the one who
appeared before her as the angel Gabriel.
Trust is important; only when we trust fully can we Love fully. Mary
is a symbol of both these virtues and, if for no other reason, is worthy of
reverence.
