Hail Mary, "Yes."

This week I have travelled to Galilee, Nazereth, Cana, Tiberias, Capernum, Magdala, Sea of Galilee....the cities that still hold, in faith, the life of Jesus, Mary and the many who followed him.

There is always the question of the archeologists if this is the real place, maybe, maybe not, yet  there is evidence that points to Jesus's life and presence.  More certain evidence for me are the many, many people who come to these sights to pray, to search, to ask.....certainly this is testimony to the fact and the truth we hold.

Narzareth..... 

Mary's Well the Roman Catholic site.

The Greek Orthodox Site -   Water running and very near the Catholic site.

There is an apocryphal story that Mary was at the well when heard the Angel. She rushed home put down her jar of water and there Gabriel appeared to her and she said, "Yes".

Churches depict the story in many beautiful forms.

The Roamn Catholic Church of the Annunciation.

Whatever the place, the reality of Mary's "Yes" to God is a call to reflect on saying "Yes".

Denise Levertov's Poem Annuniciation comes to mind. Here is a part of it.

Annunciation

(Denise Levertov)

‘Hail, space for the uncontained God’ (From the Agathistos Hymn, Greece, VIc)

We know the scene: the room, variously furnished,
almost always a lectern, a book; always
the tall lily.
Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings,
the angelic ambassador, standing or hovering,
whom she acknowledges, a guest.

But we are told of meek obedience. No one mentions
courage.
The engendering Spirit
did not enter her without consent.
God waited.

She was free
to accept or to refuse, choice
integral to humanness.

You may want to find the pool and read the rest.