I believe it was St. Teresa of Avila who coined the phrase, “God writes straight with crooked lines.” This refers to the experience of a strange series of events for which we have no explanation, but with faith and trust in God we can see that although something unexpected took place, God was with us the entire time, even in tragedy. The Christmas season presents us with this sort of scenario. First we celebrated the birth of Jesus, a feast replete with joyful angels and awe-struck shepherds with whom we shared the wonder of it all. Then we celebrated the Feast of the Holy Family, which, in a surprising twist, involved danger; next weekend we will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany featuring adoring Magi who also end up in danger. Even the Gospels are surprising, chronologically ‘reversed,’ with the reading for the Holy Family from Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 and that of the Epiphany from Matthew 2:1-12. However, what is really happening in the Church’s choice of the timing of these passages is in the message which reveals that God was already doing a saving work, shedding light, like that of the Star, on the true identity of this Child: Jesus is the Savior, and while strange and even tragic things may happen, all is in the control of our God, the One who writes straight with crooked lines.

The Gospel for the Feast of the Holy Family involved the Family’s need to flee from the wicked King Herod whose intention was to kill the newborn Babe. We were immediately jarred out of our reverie and the silence of adoration into a sense of urgency and danger. And with the unfathomable tragedy which occurred for those little ones in Bethlehem, we see that belief in Jesus as the Son of God means that there will be danger, and that we will need to trust in God and in the message this little Child will bear. His birth brought hope into the world, and we must not lose sight of it: Jesus does bring “healing in His wings.”* The successful flight of the Holy Family, along with the tragedy which occurred, is a precursor to the victory Jesus would have over death, a victory wrapped in great mystery. Finally, it is important that we realize we are part of His holy family. During His ministry Jesus said: “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Mt 12:46-50) Therefore we are to take from this that we, His family, are never without His healing, power, and ultimate victory.

The Gospel for the Epiphany is similar in its message. The Magi came from afar to adore the newborn King. Herod became aware of their objective and tried to deceive them into revealing the Baby’s location; however the angel interceded and warned them not to return to Herod, but rather to depart to their country by a different route. Thus, the adoration of the Magi was overshadowed by the evil intent of Herod. And as before, God guided them to safety. While this is not what the Magi must have expected in finally arriving at the manger, it would seem that after following the star to get there, trusting the hand of God who they had now met face to face was not difficult for them. 

A lesson from these two related passages is that being a follower of Jesus means accepting mystery, not just the kind which induces awe, but also that which can be confusing or does not seem to have a visible meaning. It teaches that we are to embrace faith and hope in a much deeper way than ever before, especially as life becomes increasingly complex. Further, it means that we must let go of everything that is pre-conceived within our minds and hearts; we need to allow a stripping away of all that comes between us and God. All attachments must be loosed in order to rise up and leave what is comfortable if need be. To do so is to allow ourselves to die to that which keeps us from God and to rise up again with Him on the last day. Ultimately, it leads to freedom and joy. We are to become as the Holy Family and as the Magi: willing to leave the safety of our comfort zone and go where we are unfamiliar. It means letting God write straight with crooked lines: that we truly trust the Word of God, Jesus, to lead us to healing, wholeness, and deeper love than we can ever imagine.

Perhaps this Christmas season we can ask for the grace to let go of that which keeps us from adoring, listening, trusting, acting, and being a person of peace, mercy, and love. It means we have to trust that God will lead, becoming like the Magi, following whatever ‘star’ or angel He sends, discerning the message through our prayer and through the voices of others. It means being like the Holy Family, trusting that when we go to a ‘foreign place’ we might have to ‘return’ to a different place, but that He will lead us home to Him. It would be good to spend time during this Christmas season in reflection upon these mysteries, asking for the grace to let go, accepting that sometimes God writes straight with crooked lines. And perhaps praying with the 2nd chapter of Matthew will assist us in embracing mystery so that we can find peace in the unknown and comfort in resting in God alone.

May we continue our celebration, adoration, reflection, and prayer during this Christmas season! May we learn how to let go of all which keeps us from growing in closeness to God! May we find inspiration in the Holy Family and the Magi who discerned the message of God! And may we find healing and peace in the newborn Jesus! Let us continue to meet in the heart of Jesus! Peace!

                                                © Michele L. Catanese

* “With healing in His wings” is a line from the third verse of the Christmas carol, Hark the Herald Angels Sing. It is actually a paraphrase of Malachi 3:20. You can find the lyrics to this carol at https://www.google.com/search?q=hymn+hark+the+herald+angels+sing+lyrics&oq=Hymn%2C+Hark+the&aqs=chrome.4.69i57j0l7.6806j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

​Blessings to all in 2020!

Images:
​1. Icon, The Holy Family for the Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-holy-family-for-the-holy-family-hospital-of-bethlehem-william-hart-mcnichols.html

2. My photo of the fresco, The Flight into Egypt, by Giotto. This was taken in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua.

3. Mosaic of the Adoration of the Magi. San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy.

4. My photo of a sunset in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. There is mystery in this photo, as symbolized by the unknown objects on the beach.

5. Painting, The Nativity and the Annunciation to the Shepherds, by Bernardino Luini, (1480/1490-1532)

NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

I do not play many games on my electronic devices, but when I do, it will be one of two favorites. Among these is a word game involving a series of jumbled letters which the player uses to form words from 3 to 7 letters in length. In a recent play session two 6- letter words were needed; the first one that emerged was “listen.” Interestingly, the second word formed from the same letters was “silent.” The irony presented here inspired some Advent reflection since this season is filled with mysteries that encourage listening. And in truth, there is no way to truly listen without silence. I once read that “silence is the indispensable climate for all revelation; noise renders it absolutely impossible.” Thus, silence is essential to growth in the spiritual life, to good discernment, to deepening our relationship with God, and to truly hearing what is going on within one’s own self. Silence allows us to listen deeply to what God is revealing. We are subjected to so much noise in our everyday lives that we must be totally intentional about building in the time for silence. Silence is crucial to our well-being as it creates a space for us to calm down, to find peace, healing, and love in the open and active disposition of waiting. In silence God is found. 

Advent is a time to slow down and listen, to imitate Mary who became the Mother of God. By entering into the silence she created an empty, fertile place for God to enter, and thus she was able to be filled with His Holy Spirit. Mary was in quiet awe and reverent reflection when the angel Gabriel arrived. His presence startled her, though interiorly she was more prepared than perhaps she was aware; in her immense humility and purity of heart, it probably never occurred to her that she would merit any sort of visitation from a messenger of God, especially not one with the message he bore. As part of our Advent meditation we can apply a similar practice by prayerfully opening our heart to allow God to fill it, something which means letting go of our own agendas and desires so that God can reveal His plan of peace and healing. For the space in our hearts to be fertile, we must first trust that He desires to make His home within us, and then we must invite him to do so.

While it is unlikely that an angel will appear during our prayer, listening does open us to the awareness of the hidden angels in our daily lives. Every encounter is pregnant with the possibility that an announcement of love, peace, and blessing is being made. But unless we cultivate the ears to hear, the eyes to see, and the heart to love, we will miss countless angels bearing messages from God. These angels come in various forms such as in children, the elderly, the poor, strangers, the folks in the pews around us during worship, those with us in the checkout line, and yes, even other drivers on the freeway! They will speak through words, deeds, and sometimes in the silence of simply being present. The more we participate in silent prayer, listening to what emerges from our openness to God in reflection and ‘active waiting,’ the more we will hear and see both within and outside of the time of prayer. What listening does is transform our way of being and of perceiving; it brings us to new birth. In short, it expands our hearts so that we find Jesus anew. 

Silence awakens reverence, wonder and awe. In the days of late Advent, the days we are now entering which span from December 17 to 24, there are a series of antiphons, or verses, that are used in our liturgies of both evening prayer and daily Mass that provide an excellent source for reflection and can move us to deeper reverence, wonder and awe. These are commonly referred to as the O Antiphons because each one begins with a phrase from Old Testament prophecies which reverently describe the Messiah, invoking Him to come quickly. An example is from December 17th: “O Wisdom of Our God most High…come to teach us the path of knowledge!” These antiphons can assist in our silent listening as we ponder what they reveal about Jesus. Perhaps for the duration of Advent it would be beneficial to spend time reflecting upon these antiphons found in the Gospel verse of each day’s Mass.* And if you really want to engage in the silent prayer of listening, and are so moved, write your own 'O Antiphon' and then pray with it; let your heart reveal the way you wish to glorify the Lord Jesus who is to coming to birth anew in your life.

​These days offer a unique gift wrapped in the mysteries of Advent. We have an infant Lord coming soon, God arriving in an unexpected way on a dark, silent night which will be illuminated by Love. This Child for whom we wait is Emmanuel, God-with-us, Prince of Peace, Father Forever, Wonder-Counselor, Lord of Lords. (Isaiah 9:5) He is God come down from Heaven to live and to die so that we might be healed. Let us seek Him, waiting in hope-filled expectation with Mary and Joseph, remembering that it is in the silence that we shall indeed find Him. 

May we enter into the silence, listening for the Lord to enter! May our time of silent prayer awaken reverence, wonder and awe within our hearts! May we seek the intercession of Mary and Joseph to assist us in our silent listening! And may we open our hearts wider so that we may make room for Jesus who comes in the form of the lonely, marginalized, and the materially and spiritually poor! Let us meet at the stable where we wait for the joy which is to come! Maranatha! Come O Lord! Peace!

                      ©Michele L. Catanese

*Here is an excellent short explanation as well as a list of all of the O Antiphons: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/the-o-antiphons-of-advent.cfm

​Images:
​1. Image, Study for Winter Trees of Life, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. This seemed like an excellent way to depict silence in winter. It can be found for purchase at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/study-for-winter-trees-of-life-299-william-hart-mcnichols.html

2. Icon, Mother of God Waiting in Adoration, by Fr. William Hart McNichols: It can be found at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-god-waiting-in-adoration-248-william-hart-mcnichols.html

3. My photo taken in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico: Depicts people going about their daily lives, here seen in front of a church.

4. Print of O Antiphon graphic.

5. My photo, giant snail taken at Gozalandia Falls and Hiking Trails, Puerto Rico. It does not get more silent or 'slowed down' than in the observation of a snail. 

6. Graphic, candles for third week in Advent.

NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time. 

The calendar has rendered the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas to be a bit shorter this year, and accordingly the liturgical season of Advent is also shorter, about three and a half weeks. But no matter its length, it is always a time which bears the challenge of learning how to wait reverently and expectantly. Advent offers a unique opportunity for us to learn anew how to wait patiently, to open our eyes, ears, and hearts more deeply, and to ponder the mysteries of this beautiful season. This year my focus is on hospitality. That is, my reflection is on the call to adopt an Advent disposition to be open, receptive, and inviting to the angels who come into our lives bearing messages of love; to strangers lowly and highborn who, even if briefly, come into our lives bearing gifts for our hearts; and to build up a welcoming abode for the Holy Family to be present as the mysteries of the season unfold. It all sounds good, but it is indeed a challenge when the secular world has been literally screaming for our attention and shows no sign of letting up as we enter this holy season intended for quiet, listening, pondering, and reflection. However, with all of this in mind, let us seek a different inclination of heart as we immerse ourselves in this beautiful, though somewhat challenging, season. Waiting can be difficult, but it does bring peace.

In Advent we prepare actively and passively. We need both, so it would be unfair to present Advent waiting as a time in which we should feel guilty if we are not gazing with rapt attention at our crèches and doing nothing more. Despite busyness, our active preparation can be prayerful, or at the very least it can be intentional. This means that as we go to the supermarket to choose the ingredients for foods which we will prepare for guests throughout Advent, and the time we spend trying to decide which gifts we will give our friends and family, can all be done while reflecting upon how these are meant to be acts of love. We can transform the more harried preparation into something reflective if we think of the recipients of our attention as the Holy Family, the angels bearing messages, or as the Magi and shepherds. If we think of those who enter our homes as guests coming from God, if we see the people as gifts in and of themselves, and if we enter into our charitable giving as an outreach to God’s poor ones, then we can transform our active preparations into peaceful, spiritual moments.

​In preparing passively, Advent waiting can be peaceful if we view it as the time to step away from the hurry-hurry, shop-till-you-drop message from the secular world. And God knows we all need the time to stop the noise and simply enjoy the quiet. In our time of reflection upon the Scripture readings of Advent, or upon the narratives in the beginning of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we should realize that in sitting with these passages nothing is expected of us at all! Rather, we can drink it all in, perhaps identifying with Mary or Joseph after each was visited by an angel, pondering whatever message comes personally. Sitting quietly and focusing on the Advent scenes will still our minds and heal our souls; it is as restful as lying on a beach watching the sea, listening to the waves gently flowing in and out. Reflecting in this way takes us out of ourselves and into another setting, something which is peaceful and healing. It assists us in dropping our tendency to obsess over what needs to be done or the challenges that we have to face, even if we are reflecting on the more difficult parts of the Advent narratives in which the holy ones faced adversity or hardship. We long for the coming of the Prince of Peace. And we need peace desperately in our world of chaos and sin: but it is always accessible as we enter into prayer.

If we spend time with the Scripture readings of each day during Advent, we will note that of the many passages from the prophet Isaiah, all suggest a future that is brighter than the one in which we now live, emphasizing hope. Several begin with phrases such as, “On that day,” “a shoot shall sprout,” “On this mountain, He will,” and “In the days to come.” And many of the Gospel readings urge readiness with words such as “Repent, prepare…” (paraphrase), “At an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come,” and so forth. The emphasis is on hopeful preparation, something we can only do if we are alert, listening, reflective, open, and hospitable.

The stance of Advent waiting, both actively and passively, is one which can produce peace because we are offering hospitality to the Holy Spirit whose grace can render our hearts pregnant with God, prepared for the Prince of Peace to enter. At the  Annunciation, the Virgin Mary teaches that watchful waiting opens the door to encounter. And like her we wait in joyful expectation for Peace to make His arrival and to be at home within us. This is the gift of Advent waiting, the gift of the peace which overcomes the tendencies of a world so contrary to it.

May we be open to the Holy Spirit that His grace might enable our hearts to welcome Peace within! May we give ourselves the gift of time for reflection upon the Scriptures, enhancing our sense of joyful expectation! May we become more hospitable to Jesus as we encounter Him in others, great and lowly, friend and stranger! And may we find the peace we seek as we await the coming of Jesus, accepting the gifts He sends in this time of waiting! Let us meet in prayer during our  Advent waiting! Maranatha! Come, O Lord! Peace!

                  ©Michele L. Catanese

Images:
1. Icon, Mother of God After Fra Angelico by Fr. William Hart McNichols: You can find this for purchase in one of many mediums, at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/mother-of-god-after-fra-angelico-168-william-hart-mcnichols.html

​2. My photo, cropped, of the fresco, Mary greets Elizabeth at the Visitation by Giotto: This fresco is part of the body of works of Giotto which adorn the Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy.

3. My photo taken in the highlands of Scotland, here representing a shoot coming forth from the stump of Jesse, (Isaiah 11:1-10)

4. Painting, The Annunciation by Bl. Fra Angelico. (My all time fav!)

5. Advent candles for the first week of Advent, of course.

NOTE: In compliance with GDPR rules, I wish to make it clear that I do not gather any information on any of my readers at any time.