MOTHER MARY: A WOMAN OF ADVENT

 

As we embark on the spiritual journey towards Christmas today, I wish to reflect upon Mary as a “Woman of Advent.” This season, traditionally a time of preparation for the Incarnation of Jesus - the Emmanuel, symbolizes the presence of the visible face of the invisible God among us. But what does it mean to describe Mary as a woman of Advent?

In Christian spirituality, the concept of time is crucial. The nine-month period from the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel, when Mary learned she would be the Mother of God, to the birth of Jesus in Nazareth aligns with the biological period of gestation. Thus, considering Mary as the woman of Advent involves meditating on these two significant periods: the Annunciation and the Nativity. During Advent, the liturgy emphasizes themes such as vigilance and preparation  -  “watch and pray -, be prepared, prepare the way of the Lord, all ravines will be filled in,” and so forth. To grasp how we might ready ourselves for the Lord’s arrival, let’s draw inspiration from  Mother Mary.

Mary consented to God’s plan with her profound affirmation: “Behold, the handmaid of God, be it done to me according to your words!” (Luke 1, 26-38). Mary’s first and foremost lesson to us is in her submission to God’s eternal will, her willingness to say “Yes” to God, despite the unknown future. By surrendering our will and liberty to God, we invite divine intervention in our lives beyond human capabilities. Mary’s acceptance brought the “Son of God, Jesus the Christ,” into her womb.

However, Mary was confronted with some critical moments in her life: when Joseph learned that she was pregnant, he planned to divorce her. We can imagine the sufferings of Mary at this moment. In the light of this event we can say that She teaches us that saying “yes” to God’s will in our lives does not necessarily mean that we will not encounter difficulties. How did Mary manage all the difficulties and  trials in her life? The Gospel explain her deep spiritual attitudes towards the “mysterious way of God in her life” with the expression: “Mary meditated on all these in her heart!”, (Cfr Luke 2:19). Thus, Mary teaches us to meditate on events in our lives and in the world, connecting them with God through prayer.

Joyfully embracing God’s intervention in her life and having submitted to the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary promptly visited her cousin Elizabeth. This gesture signifies that Advent should be a time of outreach and solidarity, a moment to support those in dire need. The Visitation also illustrates the Spirit of God working through two women. Upon hearing Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped in her womb. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth joyously proclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” (Luke 1, 39-56).

What makes this Visitation remarkable is the Holy Spirit’s confirmation, through Elizabeth, of Mary’s identity and mission; from being a young Jewish woman betrothed in marriage to Joseph, she is now Mother of Lord Jesus, Blessed among women…” The baby in her womb (John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus’ public ministry) leaped for joy. Joy, a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26), signifies the manifestation of the Good News.  Through the obedience of the blessed Mother Mary, open to God’s will in her life and her creative charity, God restored to us what  we lost (the perfect communion between God and his creation) in the disobedience of Adam and Eve.

So, as we begin this Advent journey,  by contemplating Mary’s life, we learn the importance of surrendering our will to God. This surrender leads us to collaborate deeply with the Holy Spirit’s work within us. With the Spirit’s guidance, we can lead lives open to God and to others, near and far. In doing so, we share in the joy of the upcoming Nativity of the Lord.