During Advent we considered the humility of Mary and Joseph, not to mention the unfathomable humility of God who bent low in order to become one of us. We reflected upon how Mary and Joseph each knew who they were before God, and loving Him, they said yes. At the Annunciation, Mary had completely given herself to God, and similarly Joseph had put aside his expectations, obeying the angel who came to him via a dream, taking Mary as his wife despite her pregnancy in which he had no part. As the Christmas season begins it is good to ponder more deeply the dimension of humility which enabled them to set aside their egos and follow what was asked of them. Neither of them would have been able to assent to taking on their difficult ministry, (and ministry it was), if they had not given all completely to the Lord. Therefore, in this Christmas season we are invited to reflect upon the actions of Mary and Joseph in everything that followed the birth of Jesus in the same way. We continue to observe in them what it means to follow the Lord as completely as we can: we must lay aside our ego, take on the mantle of humility, and live as if at the stable, lowly and simple. 

The Feast of the Holy Family is celebrated only a few days after the Nativity this year. This presents a difficult Gospel to hear so soon after the joy of Christmas day: the angel tells Joseph to take his family and flee because Herod wants to kill Jesus. In the Gospel of this feast day, we see the contrast between the Holy Family and that of the inflated ego of Herod, the king who feared a baby so much so that he decreed all baby boys under two be put to death. Herod knew the prophecies, but rather than to consider the possibility of their fulfillment, his hubris would not allow him to accept that this king was indeed greater than he, not as a threat, but as his savior. It drove him to the worst evil through the horrific acts of murder he ordered; and it was this ego that ultimately led to his ruin. Joseph and Mary were not ‘ruled’ by ego, and therefore heeded the warning of God, uprooting themselves from their kinsfolk and everything they knew as home.

The Gospel proclaimed at Mass the following day is that of the Presentation of the Lord in which Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the Temple for naming and circumcision.* They only had the offering of the poor: two turtledoves or two young pigeons. However, they found no shame in this, because what was more important to them was following the Law with their precious Child; they were unconcerned with how things looked to others. And it was in the Temple that they met Simeon and Anna, both of whom (individually) identified Jesus as the Messiah. Because of their holiness Simeon and Anna were blessed with long life as they longed to see the Awaited One. They trusted the Lord and His promises so greatly that the Holy Spirit gifted them with seeing who He really was when Jesus was before them. Their lack of ego enabled them to see, and therefore, to rejoice in the Messiah’s arrival. Simeon, however, left Mary with a somber message: “Behold this child is destined … to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce)….” (Luke 2:34-35) Mary, however, did not recoil or snatch the Baby out of his hands, nor did she respond as if he had spoiled their joy. Rather, she pondered what he said in her heart, again accepting whatever the Lord would bring. This was because it was always about God, and not about willfulness or superiority (something she had about nothing and no one).

During these few weeks of the Christmas season there is a tremendous amount to reflect upon. That God has humbled Himself and come as a man is something we can never stop considering prayerfully. That this is so makes the soon-to-come season of Lent as deeply shocking as it is and what makes the Easter mysteries to follow so astounding and rich. Without what we ponder at Christmas, the rest of the mysteries would be bereft of their intricacies and nuances, and the stunning reality of who Jesus is, why He came, and what He chose to do for us, would be diminished: we see with vivid clarity that in His own humility God did not choose Himself over us! If we do not consider, and therefore try to imitate, the humility of Mary and Joseph, we may fail to grasp that which snares our own ego, nor might we recognize the depth of our sinfulness and unworthiness. And without that we would not experience the depth of the love and mercy of God, who despite these things, sees us as infinitely worthy. In short, we would miss the unfathomable gift of love and mercy God offered us by sending His Son into the world. 

It is at the stable with the Christ Child that we are given the foundation for our faith: God loves us beyond measure, and the only fitting response we can give is that of casting aside our ego and agenda in a gesture of humility, trust, and love. This Christmas season let us arrive at the stable to become more ‘lowly and simple,’ that we might give the Lord Jesus our hearts as fully as we can.

May we enjoy the blessings of the Christmas season which has just begun! May we pray for the grace of setting aside our ego to say ‘yes’ to the Lord in love! And may we embrace the call to be lowly and simple as we follow where the newborn Lord leads! Let us meet in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary! Peace!

                                                        ©Michele L. Catanese

* Indeed, the sequence is backwards if one looks at it chronologically rather than how we celebrate these days liturgically. Chronologically, first came the Presentation of Jesus on the 8th day of His life, according to Jewish custom and Law. At some point after the Presentation, the Magi arrived staying there for only a short time since they received a message in a dream to leave by another route; almost simultaneously, Joseph experienced his own dream telling him to take his family away as protection from Herod, thus the Gospel heard at the Mass on the Feast Holy Family. Quick primer: the Gospel on the Feast of the Holy Family came from Matthew’s Gospel and the Gospel describing the Presentation was from the Gospel of Luke. Also, it is important to know that the Sunday Masses and the Gospel passages proclaimed follow the major feasts of the Christmas season, but the calendar may influence their order in the liturgical year: Christmas, Holy Family, Epiphany, the Baptism of Jesus. The cycle of the daily Masses, (during which the Presentation is celebrated) is completely different, though of course, very much revealing mysteries consistent with the season of Christmas. During the 8 days (the Octave) of Christmas we always have the feasts of St. Stephen, St. John the Evangelist, and the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God which ends the Octave (January 1). It can be confusing, so perhaps the following will help:
From Philip Koslowski at Aleteia, posted Dec. 27: “… in the Roman Catholic Church, the liturgical season of Christmas does not start until December 25 (including the vigil celebrated on December 24) and lasts through January. This is where it can get a little more confusing as the Baptism of the Lord is a moveable feast, depending on the day when Epiphany falls in the Roman calendar…. For those dioceses that celebrate Epiphany on January 6, the Baptism of the Lord falls on the Sunday after it. In other places where Epiphany is celebrated on the first Sunday that falls from January 2 through January 8, then the Baptism of the Lord could occur either on the following Sunday, or on a Monday (this happens if Epiphany is celebrated on January 7 or 8). The latest that the Baptism of the Lord can occur is January 13. Ordinary Time starts on the day after this feast.”

Images:
1. Image; The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. You can find this at https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-nativity-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-034-william-hart-mcnichols.html
2. My photo; The Holy Family fleeing to Egypt, bas relief sculpture on the wall of the Milk Grotto in Bethlehem, Palestine.
3. Oil painting; The Sheepfold, Moonlight, by Jean-Francois Millet, (1856-1860)
4. My photo; tree at Fort Davis, Fort Davis, Texas.
5. My photo; Angels adoring the newborn Jesus at the manger, found in the Basilica of the Transfiguration, Mt. Tabor, Israel.
6. Fresco painting; The Cortona Altarpiece: Adoration of the Magi, (left) and The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (right), by Blessed Fra Angelico (1400-1455)

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. 

During Advent a wonderful contemplation is to simply sit and gaze upon a creche scene. The figures do not move, nor do they make a sound; they do nothing except hold their position, as it were. However, while they do not make a sound, they do speak, though not aloud. They speak to our heart of who they are depicting and what we are awaiting. Not everyone does this, but part of my Advent tradition is to leave the baby Jesus out of the scene until Christmas Eve night. Thus, throughout the entire season the scene and all its figures seem to be awaiting the Lord. Yes, the shepherds and wise men are in my creche scene, but for me the shepherds are representative of the simple folks who knew of the prophecies and were waiting, and the Magi represent the journey which involves watching and patience in finding the place where the Star was leading. In these late weeks of Advent, the scene speaks of intensified waiting and of the need to pay close attention, a reminder of the words of that beautiful line of Scripture: “When peaceful stillness compassed everything and the night in its swift course was half spent, your all-powerful word from heaven’s royal throne bounded….” (Wisdom 18:14-15) 

​Everything about the stable scene is a contradiction of sorts, yet it is just as the Father wants it to be. Isaiah wrote some rather intriguing lines that point out the mystery involved: “No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, “This is the way; walk in it.”” (Is 30: 20-21) That is, the all-powerful Word will bound from Heaven and will be our guide. But in an earlier prophecy, Isaiah had revealed that this all-powerful Word would come as a child, (Isaiah 11:6). Perhaps the late Advent creche scene is telling us that the Teacher is coming, though as we least expect Him. Thus, the empty manger speaks of this child, our Teacher and King, whom we will see if we remain patient. This king comes in the deepest humility; indeed, what king is there who would assent to being born in a manger surrounded by animals? 

The next contradiction is the mother, a humble, holy woman named Mary, pregnant not in the usual course, but through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to the Son of God, who will be called Jesus, the Teacher and King foretold of old. Then we see Joseph watching over his pregnant wife, quietly contradicting the evil intentions of Herod by heeding the angel’s message: he is the father obedient to The Father. There are the animals whose home this family is occupying, yet who gladly share it. In what should be chaotic, peace reigns in the hopeful waiting. Isaiah said that there will be an eminence of light in the dark of this place: “The light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be… like the light of seven days….” (Isaiah 30:26) Thus, the final contradiction: in the darkest time of the year, an unnaturally bright star is leading the Magi to this couple who are preparing for the Baby. And unbeknownst to anyone, this Baby is light because He is the Light of the World.

It is important to remember that Mary is the Immaculate Conception who defuses the light of the One whom she bears within her womb, and will always do so. It is important to remember that Joseph, the silent one, is able to hear angels speak because he is a listener who then acts upon what he hears. Perhaps this is the call of Advent this year; that is, Advent and the creche scene speaks of our call to defuse light by living as Jesus teaches, first by listening to Him and then sharing the gospel in all we say and do. The message is that we are all called to greater purity and simplicity of heart and to ask for the grace to let go of our attachments so that we might focus on the Lord above all else. We are called to be like Joseph, listening before speaking, so that we too might hear angels speak deep in our hearts. And yes, we are called to be bearers of God’s healing and mercy. As Isaiah wrote: “He [God] will be most gracious to you when you cry out; as soon as he hears he will answer you.” (Isaiah 30:19), And again, in the light “…the Lord binds up the wounds of His people....” (Isaiah 30:26) Thus, we are to trust that God’s presence in this coming Child who is both Teacher and King will bring healing to us and to our world, and we also must remember that for this to be so, we must do our part by working with Him, acting as He taught during His ministry. Jesus taught that ‘what we have received, we are to give as a gift.’ (paraphrase of Matthew 10:8 and 1 Peter 4:10-11)

As Advent grows late and the day is drawing nearer, we are called to imitate the virtues of those gathered at the manger. It is only in silence that we can open our hearts to truly hear the message, to recognize the gifts offered, and to ask for the grace to grow holier in the light of the coming Lord. Let us be ready for time and eternity to meet on that awaited day when peaceful stillness will compass everything.

May we gather at the creche in expectation, hope, listening, and receiving! May we imitate Mary and Joseph in living the call we have been given with listening hearts and purity of spirit! And may we welcome anew the Lord of Light, Jesus Christ, into our hearts at Christmas! Maranatha! Come, O Lord! Peace!

                                 ©Michele L. Catanese

Note: Since this blog is dedicated to St. John Henry Newman, it is only fitting that I include some lines from one of his poems which describe the mysteries of late Advent.
The Watchman (A Song) – St. John Henry Newman
Time’s years are many. Eternity one.
And one is the Infinite;
The chosen are few, few the deeds well done.
For scantness is still Heaven’s might.  (December 12, 1832)

Images:
1. My photo; Creche scene in my prayer room.
2. Painting in a style called 'gouache' (water is used as a medium); St. Joseph Seeks a Lodging at Bethlehem, (Saint Joseph cherche un gîte à Bethléem) by James Tissot (1886-94).
3. Icon; San Jose Flor de Jese, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested, you can find this at fineartamerica.com/featured/san-jose-flor-de-jese-323-william-hart-mcnichols.html
4. Icon; Mother of God of Medjugorgie by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you are interested, you can find this at fineartamerica.com/featured/the-mother-of-god-of-medjugorgie-084-william-hart-mcnichols.html
5. My photo; New Mexico sunset.
6. Fresco painting; Nativity, Giotto (1303-1306) at the Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy; public domain.

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. 

Advent is the quietest time of the year. Lest you think I haven’t left the house or watched TV in the last three months, let me clarify. Spiritually, Advent is the quietest time of the year. And this is exactly the point: we exist between the pull of the world and that of spirituality. The world is overly lit up, loud, and ‘bossy’ in that we are faced with music and lights far too early, as well as the not-so-subtle persuasion to purchase all sorts of things. It is not that we ought to avoid the joy of the season, but the reality is that we are in Advent, not Christmas, so our joys ought to reflect where we are now, not where we will be in four more weeks. If we get ahead of ourselves, we will miss the beauty and the incredible graces of Advent. Thus, Advent, the quietest time of the year, invites us into the silence which is filled with joyful expectation and messages of hope and wonder too beautiful to miss.

Our reflection must begin with Mary who is essential since her participation was crucial to God’s plan. And in considering her, we must also consider the importance of hopeful expectation: the beauty and wonder of this gift is evident since the Son came ‘down’ from heaven through the assent of this humble woman and therefore, in her time of pregnancy we prayerfully join in the joyful waiting. Within this mystery is our opportunity to receive messages of hope and wonder that are far too beautiful to consider missing. It is interesting that Mary is recorded as speaking only five times in the Gospels. The first two, at the Annunciation when she humbly said yes to God’s plan, and again at the Visitation when she responded immediately to serve her pregnant older cousin.* At that time, Elizabeth, who also knew how to listen in the quiet of her soul, upon seeing Mary approaching, cried out, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” We, too, should be continually asking how it happens that the mother of our Lord should come to us when we enter into the silent prayer of Advent (or any time that we invite Mary to join us as we pray.) In the silence we can consider if we react with joy in her presence, remembering the beauty of her love for the Son she brings, as well as the love she bears for us. 

With Mary we can respond: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior….” (Luke 1: 46-55)** Notice that Mary praised God first for who He is and then for the joy He has caused within her spirit. God is always first in her mind and heart, and it is to Him that all her words and deeds always point. In this beautiful prayer she affirms many of the ways God offers hope: He has mercy, He shows His might by casting down the arrogant and raising up the lowly, He fills the hungry with good things, He keeps His promises and remembers His servants. These words, just as in the words she spoke at the Annunciation, convey what God reveals as messages of hope and wonder. God revealed His wonders within Mary through her pregnancy with His Son, within an elderly woman (Elizabeth) becoming pregnant with the prophet long promised (John the Baptist) who would usher in the Messiah, and in His unfathomable mercy for all humanity. 

During Advent let us be with Mary in her joy and expectation which came through messages of hope and wonder too beautiful to miss. In our prayer, we can join her in the silence before the angel appeared and then again, in their encounter. We should pause there, entering into the wonder of moments such as these in our own life: how have angels come to us and what do they say? What is God’s message of hope and wonder for us? We can join Mary in quiet service, our response to God’s mercy. What is the hope and wonder we experience as we give to others and receive their gratitude? What is our experience of doing things no one knows about, that like Mary, we do in hidden ways? What is the hope and wonder of coming into contact with the Lord? Do we recognize the moments pregnant with the Lord as did Elizabeth? And do we respond with joy, as did both women? 

There are messages of hope and wonder too beautiful to miss in Advent which we can only receive if we enter into the season. We are not meant to insulate ourselves from the outside world with its lights, noise, and ‘bossiness,’ and there is nothing wrong with engaging in some of it so long as we do not lose sight of the opportunities for the quiet pondering which we are called to in this wonderful season, Advent, that we might prepare the manger within our heart for the Lord Jesus. Advent is a gift to all who follow Jesus Christ so that when He comes with even more hope-filled mercy and love, we will not miss those messages either. Indeed, Advent is a precious gift into which we can (and should) invite others, especially those most harried or burdened by this time of the year. Indeed, there are messages of hope and wonder too beautiful to miss that become even more beautiful when shared.

May we enter into Advent by joining with Mary in joyful expectation! May we receive the beautiful messages of hope and wonder contained in the mysteries of the season! And may we grow in relationship with Mary and the Lord Jesus for whom we, too, are preparing! Let us meet in the silence of Advent! Maranatha! Come O Lord! Peace!

​                                         ©Michele L. Catanese

Notes:
* When we first ‘meet’ Mary in Scripture she was in solitude and the archangel Gabriel appeared with his strange greeting, “Hail, favored one,” along with tidings of great joy. Mary listened to what he said and finally spoke: “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” After Gabriel explained, Mary spoke a second time: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:26-38) The third time she spoke was the Magnificat. The other two times occurred in John’s Gospel when again she made two statements during the Wedding at Cana: “They have no wine,” and “Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:3,6)
** The Magnificat was a canticle, a song. I have always envisioned Mary singing it with Elizabeth joining in as if in refrain. Remember, Mary’s words were based on the prayer of Hannah when the Lord revealed to her that she, who was thought barren, would be the mother of Samuel, a great prophet. (1 Samuel 2:1-10) By incorporating the prayer of Hannah, (which Elizabeth would have known) it seems Mary was including praise for the wonder of Elizabeth’s pregnancy as a once barren woman with her own miraculous and virginal pregnancy. Once again, this displays the humility of Mary and her sensitivity to all God’s marvelous works.
Images:
1. My photo: At an agriturismo property (farm/guesthouse) outside of Noto, Sicily, Italy.
2. Painting; The Visitation, (inset of a larger work), by Bl. Fra Angelico.
3. My photo; Mount Cook in the South Island of New Zealand.
4. My photo: close up of dew on a tiny plant, Lost Maples Natural Area, Vanderpool, Texas.
5. Icon; The Mother of God Overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, by Fr. William Hart McNichols. If you would like to purchase this in any medium, perhaps an Advent card, (or perhaps another of Fr. Bill's beautiful icons for a Christmas card), or an icon as a gift, you can find it at ​fineartamerica.com/featured/the-mother-of-god-overshadowed-by-the-holy-spirit-118-william-hart-mcnichols.html
​(Remember, I do not receive any remuneration for recommending Fr. Bill's work. I simply enjoy sharing messages of hope and wonder too beautiful to miss!)
6. Drawing; Advent Week 1 wreath and candles.
7. Photo; Advent Week 2 wreath and candles.

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.