Parish Blog: a vIEW fROM tHE pEW

Early in December I participated in the Advent morning of reflection that was provided by the Institute for Priestly Formation.  The theme of the day was “Come, Let Us Adore”.  The reflections centered on the need for adoration time in our own lives and also on the adoration of the Wise Men before the infant Jesus.  Part of the format of the morning is 30 minutes of quiet, individual reflection time.  As I made my way to the church for this special time of prayer, I happened to encounter a friend I hadn’t seen for a while.  During our hug she said to me, “Stay in the stable; stay in the stable.  Let Mary wrap her mantle around you, and stay in the stable.”  Well, that wasn’t exactly the theme of the day, but I decided to reflect on that.

​When I arrived in the church, I thought, “Well, in order to stay in the stable, I need to go to the stable.  Please, Lord, help me.”  In my imagination I was immediately at the entrance of the stable.  Mary looks up and sees me, and I know she is very glad I am here.  Mary’s eyes are filled with welcome and an “I’ve been waiting for you to come; I needed you to come.”  Chills ran through my body, and tears came to my eyes.  Mary had been waiting and watching for ME?  Needing ME?  More than incredible!

Our eyes meet again, and I sense her invitation to come sit by her and so I do.  Mary’s eyes sparkle and shine with a sense of “See what I have?”  She wants me to hold the baby and hands him to me.  I am holding the infant Jesus!  I am snuggling the baby close to me, sensing His newborn softness and smell!  

​Stay in the stable ….. 

Mary knows that I am shivering – with excitement rather than cold - and, with the softest of gestures, she places her mantle around me.  We look at the baby together and absorb his little yet mighty presence.  Then Mary lies down and closes her eyes to rest.  I sense that she deeply trusts me with her child and is now able to rest.  Next the quiet and awe of the stable comes into my awareness.  Joseph is nearby; animals are throughout the stable, but all is very quiet.  No animal sounds at all; it is like all of us are in silent awe at the newborn’s presence with us.

​Mary waits for us, invites us in and welcomes us.  She always directs our attention to Jesus and draws us nearer to her Son.

​The invitation to all of us during this season of Christmas is to return to the stable again and again, to spend some time and stay in the stable. 

​When I think of Advent, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” stirs in my head. But it is not only the coming of the babe in Mary’s arms at Bethlehem that we celebrate during this special season. We also look to the future when Christ will come again, while examining that whole interval between these two comings of Christ.
 
First we celebrate Christ-become-human. God becoming a mere man! We can barely conceive of the possibility. And yet, we know that it is true because Jesus himself declared it so. Our response? We are humbled by His great display of humility.
We view His life as it unfolds for us in the Gospels. He “walks in our shoes.” He knows our temptations, suffered our hurts, felt our rejections, and carried our burdens. Jesus grieved over loved ones lost, knew the strength it took to get up after being beat down, and endured pain well beyond ours. Jesus also laughed, cried, and enjoyed family and friends.
 
Jesus Christ came to show us what life can and should be. He established a Church based on the concept of a people held together by love. Alone we can do nothing; together we find meaning and life. Life as His body here on earth - Corpus Christi.
When Christ left this earth, he did not abandon us. He remains with us in His Spirit, in the Church, the sacraments, the Scriptures and each other. He lives in us and keeps His vision of the kingdom of God ever before us.
 
When Christ comes again, His presence will no longer be hidden in the signs and symbols of the liturgy or the words of the Scriptures. His presence among us will be revealed in all its fullness, a presence that will never end, a presence that will perfect and complete our existence as the Body of Christ.
 
This is Advent. In these few weeks we take in the sweeping panorama of time - from Christ's birth to his Second Coming. The season of Advent brings us the magnificent vision of life and hope for the future given to us by Christ.
 
We take our cue from John the Baptist as he calls out to us through time, “Prepare Ye the way of the Lord.” Advent is our time to become more involved - not immersed in Jingle Bells and Snowmen, but in life with our brothers and sisters who are on this journey of faith. Advent is a time to get caught up in the meaning and the possibilities of life as a disciple of Christ.
 
Thus we are preparing not only for Christmas but also for Christ's Second Coming. Then we can truly shout: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

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