Photo of the Grotto of Annunciation taken by Fr. Peter Eke
INSIGNIFICANTLY SIGNIFICANT
October 2019, I and a priest buddy of mine led a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was my first ever visit. One of the sites we visited was in Nazareth, the place of the Annunciation, where according to tradition was where Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary. Months following the pilgrimage come Covid- 19. I have no doubt that the pilgrimage prepared me in a special way what lies ahead since 2020. In the midst of fear, anxiety, lockdown, civil and religious protocols and restrictions, one should never lose sight of the gift the of life. Life is a gift that needs to be nourished and cherished.
I was taken back by the size of the old village of Nazareth. It was very small. In the first century Nazareth’s population was estimated to be about 480 people. One understands Nathaniel’s reaction when Philip told him that the Messiah comes from Nazareth, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:45–46.)
God chose a simple and pious young woman, from an insignificant village of Nazareth to be the mother of Jesus. Nazareth was so insignificant that it was never mentioned in the Old Testament. First century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (37-100AD) did not mention Nazareth in his writings. Nazareth was not even mentioned in the Jewish Talmud. This means from the Jewish viewpoint nobody of any importance ever lived there and nothing of significant ever took place there. Is it not how God’s plan often unfolds? God does not see as we see, we look at the appearance, but the LORD looks into the heart. (I Samuel 16:7)
In the grotto located in ancient Nazareth, where tradition says is the house of Mary’s family, beneath the Basilica of Annunciation, is an altar where you will find these words written in Latin “Verbum Caro Hic Factum Est” which means in English, “Here the Word became flesh.” I had goosebumps when we entered this site. These words were more profound than ever. “Here in Nazareth” Here, in this location, the Word of God became flesh. Here Mary, my mother, your mother, heard those words “Do not be afraid, Mary for you have found favor with God. Behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus….”
Annunciation reminds us of the bigness of Christ and the smallness of Christ. G. K. Chesterton talking about the smallness of Christ when he said, “The hands that has made the sun and the stars were too small to reach the huge heads of the cattle.” One of the graces of Christmas is to recognize smallness as something big and bigness as something small. This is what Mary brings out in the song “He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.” Today is a great day to look at the smallest amongst us, they may be more valuable than we think.
As Scripture says, “Nothing is impossible with God.” God looked into the hearts of Mary and Joseph, He entrusted to them this awesome responsibility. God may have seen the unconditional love and piety of Mary, that He fulfilled the promise of the Messiah through her. What does God see when He look into my heart, into your heart? Does He see unconditional love? Does He experience the desire to totally abandon oneself to him like Mary “May it be done to me according to your word.”
Like Mary let’s bring to God our worry, our fear, our struggle, our poverty, our weakness, our insecurity, and doubt. The smallness of Nazareth, the smallness of Mary and Joseph, the smallness of God, humbled himself to become man, the smallness of the cave, and the smallness of the embryo, baby Jesus, is a reminder that truly nothing is impossible for God. What seems insignificant in the eyes of man is truly great in the eyes of God.
Prayers: Lord, may I have the patience and humility to see your grace even in little things. May I approach this Christmas with deeper understanding of your mercy and love for me and for others, Amen.
