麻豆社

Good morning.

How much would you pay for a second-hand pair of shorts? A couple of pounds? Maybe a fiver if they鈥檙e in good condition? What about six million pounds? That eye-watering sum is what a pair of Muhammad Ali鈥檚 trunks are expected to fetch at an auction in New York later this week.

The trunks, which are signed by the boxer whom many believe to be the greatest ever, were worn at the Thrilla in Manila, one of a string of epic fights in the 1970鈥檚 that were defining moments for the sport. Doubtless the buyer will hope that owning the trunks will capture something of the atmosphere and aura of that event, so the huge cost is testimony to the capacity of an object to hold a memory.

Christians also understand full well the cherishing of special objects and how they can hold meaning. Today is the Feast of the Annunciation, the day when Christians recall the visit of the Angel Gabriel to Mary and her yes to God鈥檚 invitation that she be the mother of Jesus. For two millennia this exquisite scene, in which earth and heaven meet, has powerfully inspired artists, ikon-writers and craftsmen. Many of the faithful today will make use of the images they have created as they keep the feast.

However these artistic depictions of the Annunciation are not objects of worship. The Bible has plenty of dire warnings about the danger of worshipping idols. Rather they point beyond themselves to enable the Christian to imagine themselves into the scene and so make Mary鈥檚 courageous yes to God their own.

For example, in the eastern tradition the ikon is viewed as a window into heaven and is rich in ancient symbolism, its three components of wood from a plant, egg from an animal and gold from the earth symbolising how all creation rejoices in God鈥檚 coming to earth. In the western tradition, gathering at a solid image of Mary in a pilgrimage site or a church can help Christians better to understand the claim that lies behind the annunciation, that God assumes a human body in Jesus.

I have to admit, I don鈥檛 think I鈥檒l be bidding for Muhammad Ali鈥檚 shorts. It鈥檚 too easy to value an object by the size of the price tag rather than treasure it simply for what it is. But anyone who has ever watched the Repair Shop will know how much a cherished object once owned by a departed family member can matter to people. If such objects are allowed to point beyond themselves to the memories they carry, then they can bring joy and texture to people鈥檚 lives. And that, like the Annunciation, is something to celebrate.

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