And whilst introduction fades at once in a flurry of remaining-minute seasonal activities, we slow our hurried pace to hear God communicate into our lives. thinking about the Gospel scene of the Annunciation prepares us to welcome the new child Jesus throughout the eyes of the graced lady who organized most intimately for our Lord's delivery, his mom Mary.
a pretty altarpiece of the Annunciation through Jan van Eyck, a proficient Netherlandish painter, is a resplendent painted scene of that graced moment when the observe of God grew to be flesh in Mary's womb. This fifteenth-century oil painting is visual companion as we experience from creation to Christmas.
Van Eyck is among the first artists to imagine the Annunciation in a church interior as opposed to a domestic or courtyard atmosphere. His stunning eye for detail and brilliant use of superb colour creates a radiant scene, unparalleled in splendor, that draws us into the Annunciation as recounted within the first chapter of Luke's Gospel.
On the left we see the fantastic face of the archangel Gabriel, framed in mild curls of golden hair flowing underneath a jeweled crown. wearing a regal gown of deep pink and glittering gold studded with intricately painted jewels and pearls on its border and clasp, Gabriel is framed by way of brightly coloured wings.
in one hand the divine messenger holds a glass team of workers while the different hand is raised to bring the divine message to Mary that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and he or she will bear Jesus, the son of God, into the realm.
look carefully to see phrases coming out of the Archangel Gabriel's mouth, "Hail, crammed with grace!" written right here in Latin, "Ave Gratia Plena." The divine phrases breaking into human history are addressed to the beautiful, serene figure of Mary, clothed in a full-size gown of blue that cascades in dissimilar folds to the ground.
Mary accepts the sacred message by way of asserting, "i'm the handmaid of the Lord." appear closely, as soon as once more, to peer Mary's words, "Ecce Ancilla Domini," written in Latin, however now in reverse, as if to suggest that God from above hears Mary's response!
The Holy Spirit, within the form of a dove, hovers without delay above Mary carried by way of rays of golden easy streaming during the upper home windows of the sacred space. The floor tiles and sacred images highlight old testomony folks and activities that prefigure Christ.
Mary's head is bowed toward the heavenly messenger to incline the "ear of her heart" to God's note. Her fingers, raised in a gesture of prayer, demonstrate how we're to hear and reply to God's be aware with our "sure" to God. The lilies in the foreground evoke Mary's purity in her Immaculate theory, whereas the open Bible reminds us that Mary contemplated God's notice, retaining near her coronary heart, intellect and body the divine notice made flesh.
Mary experiences the herbal worry that might accompany such a special, even startling announcement. however Gabriel's message is divine in starting place and pregnant with the love and light-weight of God being offered to a world enveloped in the isolating darkness of sin. Mary's herbal concern is overcome with supernatural grace. through her "sure" the word of God made flesh brings salvation to the human race.
at the Annunciation, Mary teaches us introduction hope. From Mary we find out how to listen to the word of God in openness, expectation and have confidence. As her worry melted into completely satisfied religion, Mary shows us the way to substitute our fears with confident have faith in God's promised presence.
color, light and form fixes our gaze on Jesus, whose delivery is right here introduced. We do not see Christ physically existing in van Eyck's surprising photograph, but we "see" him with introduction "eyes of faith," introduced by using Gabriel and humbly obtained within the mind, heart and physique of Mary.
To take into account the Annunciation at the shut of introduction is to face in awe earlier than the approaching secret of the Incarnation, the centerpiece of Christian faith. For as St. Thomas Aquinas notes, when Mary stated "sure" she did so "within the name of all human nature." In Mary's Annunciation "sure," can also we find our day by day "sure," to the faithful guarantees of God.
Jem Sullivan, educator and author, contributes a Scripture column to Catholic news provider and is the writer of "agree with, have fun, are living, Pray: A Weekly walk with the Catechism."
class: introduction
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