On the Feast of the Annunciation, Speaking the Creator into the World

“In the days of creation of the world, when God was uttering his living and mighty “Let there be,” the word of the Creator brought creatures into the world. But on that day, unprecedented in the history of the world, when Mary uttered her brief and obedient, “So be it,” I hardly dare say what happened then – the word of the creature brought the Creator into the world.”

– Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, 1874

How amazing is that? The creature’s word echoes the Creator’s word. The created gives birth to the Creator. That says a lot about what God thinks of humanity. Far too often we look at ourselves and say, “I’m only human! What do you expect?” We use our humanity as an excuse. God, however, sees our humanity as an opportunity. It is the opportunity, to paraphrase St. Gregory of Nyssa, for the Invisible to be seen, the Intangible to be touched, and the Son of God to be become the Son of Man. That opportunity was fulfilled in Mary’s “Let it be.” That’s not, however, the end of the story or the opportunities. Each one of us is a new opportunity for God. The Feast of the Annunciation reminds us that God is always announcing and entrusting God’s self to each one of us, to you and to me.

What is God announcing in our lives? In what ways is God entrusting himself to us? Will we speak the word that brings the Creator into the world?