+JMJ
It is the first week of Advent. I struggle with Advent and the joyful mysteries in general. I just always seem to struggle to “get it.” My understanding of it is limited, which is my own fault. I am always drawn to the Passion and death of our Lord so I tend to meditate on that rather than other mysteries. I find all my joy and understanding at the foot of the cross.
So…. I struggle with Advent. As I was thinking about this, trying to be more deliberate in growing during this joyful season, I asked the Lord to reveal to me a path.
The next day I was praying through the Seven Sorrows of Mary (Found Here) and the Lord dropped a little grace into my heart.
I prayed the the Sixth Sorrow:
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of thy compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance and His Heart was pierced before His body was removed from the Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding.”
As I asked the Sorrowful Mother for understanding an image was placed in my mind by the Holy Spirit. It was of our Holy Mother receiving the infant Jesus into her arms immediately after giving birth to Him and the image of our Blessed Mother receiving the lifeless body of Jesus taken down from the cross.
As I meditated on this idea, I began to see the love of our Holy Mother and the beauty of the mysteries.
Tender Devotion
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son.”
– Luke 2:6-7
She receives Him with the most tender loving care. She is completely filled with the deepest love for Him as He is placed as a screaming infant into her arms.
He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over.”
-Matthew 27:58
Then, again receiving with absolute gentleness, His lifeless body taken down from the cross. These are completely different situations, but she displays the same tender devotion and affection.
How do we receive Him into our hearts? With the tender-loving care of His Mother or is there no room for Him?
Annunciations
And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory of the Father’s Son, full of grace and truth.
-John 1:14
As the Angel Gabriel announced the good news to Mary, she responded with her resolute “Fiat,” an absolute and unshakable love for the Father and the Son. This love allowed for the arrival of the Word Made Flesh. The cry of the infant Jesus announces the love of the Lord to the whole world. I like to think of this as a ripple that resonates throughout the earth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He handed over the Spirit.”
-John 19:30
He also announces His departure from this world as He utters His final words. His last words from the cross announce the completion of the Holy Sacrifice and solidify His complete love for us.
Have we announced the desire for Jesus in our hearts? Have we made room for His arrival? Have we united our suffering to His?
Caring Hands
She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” -Luke 2:7
Mother Mary takes her newborn son, wraps Him in swaddling clothes, and lays Him in a manger. I picture as she carefully cleans her newborn Son and reverently wraps Him up in swaddling clothes. safe and secure. She tenderly kisses His tiny forehead and gently tucks Him into the manger, safe and secure.
They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where He had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.”
-John 19:40-42
Then, those delicate hands clean the bloody body of our Lord and wrap Him carefully in burial cloths. She arranges His body and tucks Him safely in the tomb.
How do we care for those around us? With the same diligence that the Holy Mother showed in caring for her only son?
Resounding Love
Where do I learn to love Jesus perfectly? At the hands of His Holy Mother for she knows Him more intimately than any other creature ever created.
Her love is seen in the way she receives Him into her arms and her heart. In the way, she is present with Him from the very beginning all the way to His physical end on this earth.
So let us imitate our Holy Mother during the Advent season, who cared for Him with the greatest devotion in all circumstances. Let us develop a diligent, reverent, caring love for our Savior. Let us learn the absolute, immense, unconditional love she showed Him. A love that endured through the joyful moments and the sorrowful ones.
Thrive in Jesus, my Friends!
What have you learned from our Holy Mother? How do you reverence her? How has she drawn you closer to Christ?
Leave me a message if the Spirit moves you too!