Dec 20
Today we read of the Annunciation to Mary and one of my daily meditation books has an interesting poem by Fr Killian McDonnell called "In the kitchen" ('In the sixth month the angel Gabriel ...' Luke 1:26) Bellini has it wrong. I was not kneeling on my satin cushion, in a beam of light, head slightly bent. Painters always skew the scene, as though my life were wrapped in silks, in temple smells. Actually, I had just come back from the well. Placing the pitcher on the table I bumped against the edge, spilling water on the floor. As I bent to wipe it up, there was a light against the kitchen wall as though someone had opened the door to the sun. Rag in hand, hair across my face, I turned to see who was entering, unannounced, unasked. All I saw was light, white against the timbers. I heard a voice I had never heard. I heard a greeting, I was elected, the Lord was with me, I pushed back my hair, stood afraid. Someone...