Advent has begun. For us it is usually a time of joyful anticipation. But the people of God had suffered so much up until His coming. Wandering in the desert, slavery, persecution, starvation, exile. Things I can’t even imagine.
It reminded me of Our Lady and St. Joseph, and journeying to Bethlehem. In it the Lord showed me an example of noble virtue in circumstances that would have probably made me give up.
All Things
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:7
My Meditation
I watch as our Lady and St. Joseph journey towards Bethlehem. Showered in many inconveniences and difficult trials. The road is hard through the wilderness. Unruly and dangerous. Perhaps they have to detour. Perhaps their donkey goes lame. Perhaps they run out of water. Little things add up into big things.
Then, they are unable to find a place to stay once they arrive in Bethlehem. They are exhausted, worn out, and hungry from the journey. They just need a place to rest.
They are offered the dirty stable, to sleep among the animals. No blankets…. no pillows… just hay on a dirt floor. There Mary must bring our Lord in the world. In a place seemingly unfit for a King.
But even through this difficult journey there is always peace in their hearts.
Living Virtue
As I watch Mary and St. Joseph on their journey, I can see how each point in the letter from Saint Paul is lived by them. How each point directly corresponds to a virtue that, if practiced, will draw me closer to the New Born Savior.
Beareth All Things: Love
The inconvenience of not being able to find a place to sleep. Having to bring her son into the world in an uncomfortable stable. Her love for God spoke volumes in what she bore on the journey and their stay in Bethlehem.
To bare all that they faced speaks to me of love. Mary and Joseph bore all of that inconvenience and struggle. They accepted with great humility all the Lord allowed to befall them. Only true love would keep someone going in the midst of so much struggle.
How can you love more during this Advent Season? What can you “bare” out of love for our Lord?
Believeth All Things: Faith
Mary believed in the Word. The Word given to her by the Angel Gabriel. She was given very special insight because of her closeness with the Holy Spirit. This complete trust in the Lord carried her through the difficulties she, and Joseph, faced on the journey to Bethlehem.
I am called to have faith in the Word made flesh. To trust in His Promises to me and His coming into this world for my salvation.
What area of your life can you trust the Lord more during Advent? What can you let go of in order to trust Him completely?
Hopeth All Things: Hope
At her Fiat, Mary placed all her expectations, heart, body, mind and soul entirely in her Son. She placed her entire self in Him, and centered everything around Him, her Savior.
Hope enter the world at the first cry of our Lord. It was made physical in His birth because only He would make Salvation possible for each one of us.
How can you place your entire self in Christ during Advent? What helps you hope in His coming?
Endureth All Things: Fortitude
It took a lot of courage to make that journey to Bethlehem. Facing unknown dangers and problems along the way. The “what if’s…” would have been many refuse the journey all together.
It takes courage to make the journey the Lord as set out for each one of us. It will be difficult and dangerous. It requires fortitude to withstand the difficulties and persistence to keep going. But knowing He is there waiting at the end, makes the path so much easier to walk.
What are you afraid of the most? What can you do to overcome that fear during Advent?
Advent is a time of great expectation. A time to prepare ourselves: body, mind, heart, and soul, for His coming. But during this waiting time, we can learn so much from His Mother and earthly father about how to prepare for Him.
Faith, Hope, and Love sprinkled with a dash of courage will help us accomplish great things in the journey the Lord has set out for each one of us.
Thrive in Jesus, my Friends!
How are you going to grow closer to Jesus this Advent? How are you preparing for His coming? Leave me a comment and let me know!
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