thunder entered her

Arvo: writer of music that is beyond human comprehension, Part Deux:

:: magnificat :: revelations ::

such is the story of Mary. she keeps to herself the greatest mystery of all time: the Virgin birth. she was the first to receive the Holy Spirit in the physical sense, and in the most powerful & consuming way possible. this was no tongue of flame, but the seed of life— and not just any life... the body of Christ Himself.

i don't think that this idea has ever been explored— for who could dare?

the only other (i know of yet) to explore the incarnation in written word was St. Ephren:

"Thunder entered her and made no sound;
there entered the Shepherd of all;
and in her He became the Lamb, bleating as He comes forth"

this text was explored by Tavener in his composition "Thunder entered Her" but neither have sucessfully captured the power of such an occurance. well, i am now seeking to, because i want to understand. (if only i were a poet or a composer!)

we are familiar with the story of the Annunciation. it has been depicted in all unique and ubiquitous ways. the Magnificat has been sung by children in Christmas pageants and by an Estonian chorale, and it has been beautiful (to say the least). but there is an event that must have occurred between these two happenings, and that is time when the Holy Spirit CAME UPON Mary and planted the seed of the Christ child into her womb.

I am not approaching this as a sexual experience, for it would have been far beyond that. i have felt the intense aching in my womb as i hold a child in my arms, i have been sent reeling into the realm of orgasm, and i have felt the divine power of the Holy Spirit come upon me and fill me with his presence. None of these physical experiences can be accurately represented with words— try rolling all three into one & multiplying the power to an intensity you can't imagine.

Mary undoubtably had one of the most incredible & AWESOME (in the truest sense of the word) spiritual encounters— one that no man will ever begin to understand— and it was made physical WITHIN her.

there could not have been just a simple, emotionless "poof" and she was suddenly pregnant with Jesus. It did not just "happen" and then one day she noticed her belly was growing.

oh no– there was an event, an event so mystical and uncomprehendable that it has never been justly spoken of in the words of men. and it was hers.

no one will ever, can ever, know her ecstacy, her fear, her amazement, her pleasure. I would have written a Magnificat, too.