Out of the Eyes of Babes

 

 

Tomorrow, on the fourth Sunday of Advent, we hear for the fourth time this month Luke’s Gospel of the Annunciation story.  I’m sure we have reflected many times on the meaning of this Gospel in our lives, as we have done year after year, from the time of our vocation calling to the never- ending callings and challenges we experience in our daily monastic lives.  And hearing this Gospel two days in a row, somehow wakes us up to dive deeper into these last few days of Advent, waiting and pondering with Mary, anticipating Christ’s coming at Christmas.

We’ve all read many commentaries on the Annunciation.  The essential message we glean from all of them is Mary’s surrendering “Fiat.”  And her response “How can this be?” or maybe “Why me?” has been experienced by all of us.

I do not feel the need to read another commentary; rather, I’m going to share a precious story.

My sister shared with me this past week that as she was babysitting her 18 month-old granddaughter Jordan, Jordan seemed to be captivated with the Nativity set.  She just stood in a quiet stance, and with her big inquisitive eyes seemed to be taking everything in.  Her eyes focused on the statue of Mary, she picked it up, gazed at it, her eyes meeting Mary’s eyes.  She began talking to Mary, in infant gibberish, of course, and then began kissing Mary.  The next morning, as my sister was leaving for work, she just happened to glance at the manger scene as she was headed out the door and noticed that Mary was missing.  She looked all over the house and finally found Mary in a basket with all of Jordan’s favorite stuffed animals.

This story touched my heart and I asked my sister if she could possibly get Jordan to re-enact this sacred event and send me a picture.  She was able to accomplish this request.

I think this event is an Annunciation story for Jordan.  Somehow she knows that Mary is special.  What is she thinking? What is she feeling?  What is she pondering? Is it an “inner knowing?”  I will never know what she is thinking, feeling, or pondering.  She cannot express her inner knowing.  She will probably not remember this sacred discovery next year.  But somehow I believe it an Annunciation moment for her, a formation period for her, somehow forming her for all the “fiats” of her life.

Jordan’s sharing of Mary with her stuffed animals, whom she probably communicates with on a regular basis, is evidence to me that God is already working within her to birth and share God’s life with others.

The following poem, entitled “Woven” by Edwina Gateley in her book Growing into God,

captures the Annunciation mystery:

“There is a divinity

split over the earth

that flows where we don’t see

and clothes

all dead and living things

in mantles of eternity.

Though in our gray

and stressed out world

we miss the holy thing,

still it shines,

wove fast and deep

in our dark humanity.

And if one day

we’d dare to glance

into a child’s wondrous eyes,

we’d see reflected,

shining there,

God’s bright inviting dance.”