This December, a series of daily Advent, devotional postings is running from December 1st to December 25th. Journey beside Mary, the Mother of God, as she waits for the birth of Jesus.
STRENGTH
Scripture: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,” (John 1:14a).
Quote of the day: “The Word of God entered with ‘patience’ in the moment of the Incarnation and thus unto death on the Cross. Patience and perseverance” (Pope Francis).
Song Suggestions:
“Sanctuary,” by Randy Rothwell
“I Shall be Healed,” by Bob Rice
Questions: What is God asking you to do today? Do you recognize the presence of God within you right now?
MIND
She has conceived by the Holy Spirit! Imagine Mary’s joy after she says “yes” to God. The angel departs from her, but Mary is not left alone.
Instead, the very flesh of God dwells within her.
How Mary must contemplate this! Perhaps she stays on the top of her parents’ roof, a hand gently resting over her womb. She may be in a sort of daze as she relishes the mystery that is taking place within her. Her cream veil gently flaps in the Galilean breeze and her pale blue mantle falls loosely over one shoulder.
She cannot formulate any words, but she contemplates the Son of God. In her own womb.
Closing her eyes, she forgets her surroundings. Her heart, her mind, her soul, and her strength is filled with the delightful awareness of the entirety of God within her. God made human. Not simply His Soul and Divinity, but His Body and Blood.
How Mary loves the Scriptures. She loves the Word of God. She thinks of the first spoken statement in the Jewish Torah, “Let there be light.”
The Word, which she listens to and ponders; the Word that promises her hope and the redemption of all people; the Word that leads her to the Father.
The Word is now flesh. God has taken on human nature so that He may dwell with humanity.
Thanksgiving lunges from Mary’s heart. Here He is! Jesus!
(Scriptural Inspiration and Reference: Genesis 1:3; John 1:1-18)
HEART
Did Mary just say that Jesus is here? He hasn’t even been born yet! Indeed, Jesus has not been born, but that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t dwell in Mary.
Look at your own life. You are waiting for something, somehow, someone, someway.
Now, look at Mary. She is waiting for her Son to be born. Yet, she is rejoicing that her Son is with her in the present moment! It is the “almost, but not yet,” mentality that is explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Though already present in his Church, Christ’s reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled “with power and great glory” by the King’s return to earth…That is why Christians pray, above all in the Eucharist, to hasten Christ’s return by saying to him: Maranatha! Our Lord, come! (CCC 671).
Basically, God truly is with us. However, we are not with Him in the heavenly divine union that we eventually will be. In other words, when the “veil” is lifted, we will see Him in fullness (CCC 1404). So, on one hand, we already have Christ in His full presence, but on the other, we still wait for the fulfillment of His reign.
Challenge yourself today to treasure the presence of Christ with you this moment. He may be veiled, or He may be hidden in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, but He is present. No matter what you are waiting for, welcome Jesus into your heart, mind, soul, and strength today!
How do we welcome Jesus?
1. Receive Jesus in the beautiful act of Holy Communion. The Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Let us receive Him as often as possible. How can we pass up witnessing the Word made flesh on the altar during Holy Mass? And that same Word gets to dwell in us as the Word dwells in Mary at the Annunciation.
2. If you can’t make it to daily Mass or you are in a state of mortal sin, you can still receive Jesus in Spiritual Communion. In Spiritual Communion, we receive all the graces of actual Holy Communion. The act of Spiritual Communion will be provided below in the “Soul” section for today.
So, go receive Jesus! And treasure Him!
SOUL
My Jesus, I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
(“An Act of Spiritual Communion.” EWTN. https://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/blsac4.htm)
As You entered the womb of the Blessed Virgin, come into my heart.
Mary, teach me how to wait.
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Judges 13:3
An angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her: Though you are barren and have had no children, you will conceive and bear a son.