Women of Faith
This week members of Mothers’ Union observe Lady Day –
the Feast of the Annunciation to Mary, surely the most honoured of women of faith.
There are SO many names of faithful women and yet the gospel
account of a woman Jesus commends for what she has done,
leaves her Nameless. She is to be remembered for anointing His Body.
She is to be remembered for her act of devotion to the Lord of Lords.
Faith is not to be defined by either actions or prayer,
faith is rather a state of being which responds – whatever that response may be.
She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.
Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world,
what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.
Mark 14: 8-9
‘O God, you fulfil our desire beyond what we can bear:
as Mary gave her appalled assent to your intimate promise,
so may we open ourselves also to contain your life within us, through Jesus Christ, Amen.’
Morley, Collect for the Annunciation. All Desires Known 1992. P. 26.