The representation of Annunciation in stained glass window of 12th century Chartres Cathedral depicting the life of Christ masterfully captures the exact moment of Mary’s initial reaction to the Archangel Gabriel’s startling words.
Upon hearing, “Greetings (hail), fully graced one! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28), Mary is greatly troubled and much perplexed pondering what sort of greeting this might be (v. 29).
So, too, are we troubled and perplexed by what God asks of us.
Deeply troubled at Gabriel’s greeting, Mary ponders what the greeting might mean. Such pondering takes time, the kind of time needed for reflection, meditation and contemplation.
So, too, must we ponder what God says to us.
