VISIO DIVINA OF THE ANNUNCIATION REVISITED!
Visio Divina with the Annunciation revisited! I first focus on Mary and her demeanor. She’s alone, attentive and resigned. As I pan around the image I notice the red “curtain” that closes her off and shelters her from the rest of the house. There are various layers of draped material implying a softness, an innocence. Everything is so simple – the home, Mary, even the angel of God. Finally, the house is SOLID!
solitude
Mary sits alone, away from the noise, consenting to God’s action and presence. She seems ready, willing and able to commune with God. Is her solitude and silence the reason? I think it’s safe to say this is probably not the first time Mary goes to her room to pray. She seems focused on the conversation and unafraid – as if she’s accustomed to this type of encounter.
how do we compare?
How do we pray? Do we have somewhere separate in our home where we can go to pray. How are we preparing ourselves for an encounter with God? Does our prayer life consist of remembering God in difficult moments or just before bed? Are we fitting God in on our way to work? Are we accustomed to encountering God in our daily lives?
draped in goodness
The draped layers in the painting, to me, seem to indicate a softness, an innocence and even a sense of comfort. She exuded that softness, innocence and comfort everywhere she went. There were layers to Mary’s holiness and prayer life as well. She spoke, she listened, she believed in Old Testament fulfillment and she trusted.
simplicity
I don’t know about you but whenever I’ve seen a rendering of the Annunciation, the angel is depicted more as a human form with elaborate wings. This is the first time I have ever seen the angel depicted as a simple light form. As I focused on its simplicity, I notice the simplicity of the home and of Mary.
Mary’s life and home were very simple. I believe the portrayal of the angel as a simple form illustrates God’s ability to meet us where we are in our spiritual life. Therefore, wait for it, look for it, be attentive, be present!
solid
Notice the house. The walls are cement, the floor is stone – it’s simple, yet SOLID! STRONG! Simplicity doesn’t mean weak, poor or uneducated. For me, simple means nothing in excess, possessing nothing unnecessary and leaving room for what really matters.
This painting speaks to me about the correlation between simple and solid, simplicity and strength. Think about it, living simply without all the extraneous things that weigh us down leaves room and time for the important things, especially our relationship with God.
Simplicity is the “feng shui” of the soul. It’s when we fill ourselves with God that we become SOLID, STRONG AND FREE!
God bless you!
Click here to read about the artist’s intention for this painting. You won’t want to skip it, it’s pretty awesome!
