The Immaculate Conception

Anne and Joachim,

Staunch Jewish peasants,

Or were they merchants,

Or were they bankers,

Or were they just plain inscrutable Jews—

No matter—

Their daughter, Mary, pure and simple--

Simple like a seashell is simple,

Simple like an acorn is simple—

That is, an ordinary Jewish girl,

Filled as we are all—

Like the seashell, like the acorn—

With deep mystery, was conceived--

When on that ordinary night

She was indeed conceived—

Without sin.

Big lesson here:

Purity and simplicity are indivisible—

Mysteries living at the core of all:

Mary, seashell, acorn—

All conceived without sin.

--December 6, 2013