Ouachita Stories

Striking words are often still, small words. A word from God may strike our ears in a variety of ways. Consider how art illustrates Mary’s hearing of her role in the incarnation (click links for images).

• Giotto (1304) and Tissot (1894) depict a prayerful Mary.
• Martini (1333) and Jennings (2006) see Mary recoil.
• Duccio (1311) and Heinwein (1993) show Mary as surprised.
• Leonardo (1475), Tanner (1898) and Soyer (1980) portray Mary as confident.
• For Caravaggio (1609), Mary is humble.
• Collier (2000) presents her close to the Word.

Yet Mary welcomes and praises the Word dwelling among us. She offers a model for hearing with obedience and wonder words full of grace and truth.

In this Christmas season, how will a word from God strike our ears?

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning...The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:1-2,14

 

By Randall Wight, Dean of the Sutton School of Social Sciences