Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Humorist theologian Frederick Buechner is one of my favorite writers. Way back in 1979 he penned Peculiar Treasures: A Biblical Who’s Who. My copy is now dog eared and worn because I referred to it countless times.
Here’s Buechner’s take on today’s solemnity, focused on the Archangel Gabriel:
She struck the angel Gabriel as hardly old enough to have a child at all, let alone this child, but he’d been entrusted with a message to give and he gave it.
He told her what the child was to be named, and who he was to be, and something about the mystery that was to come upon her. “You mustn’t be afraid, Mary,” he said.
As he said it he only hoped that she wouldn’t notice that, beneath the great golden wings, he himself was trembling with fear to think that the whole future of creation hung now on the answer of a young girl.
As a further inspiration below is the beautiful 14th century Basque hymn, “The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came.” YOUTUBE features several renditions. Among the best are Gregmail 23 & Georgiaepiscopal. But my all-time favorite version was performed by STING which they entitled “Gabriel’s Message.” It is on YOUTUBE RadUniverse.com Top of the Pops, 1987. I get chills whenever I hear it.
1. The angel Gabriel from heaven came
His wings as drifted snow his eyes as flame
"All hail" said he "thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favored lady," Gloria!2. "For know a blessed mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honor thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold
Most highly favored lady," Gloria!3. Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head
"To me be as it pleaseth God," she said,
"My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name."
Most highly favored lady. Gloria!4. Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say:1
"Most highly favored lady," Gloria!
Do yourself a favor on this solemnity and listen and sing one of these moving and powerful versions.
—Timothy J. Cronin