 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. Comments are closed.
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