ADVENT'S ADORATION

Hanging in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy is the Adoration of Mary by Italian Renaissance painter, Correggio. Stunned before Mary's worship I pondered her yes.  A yes with open hands and heart and womb; a yes to judgement, hurt, confusion and misunderstanding. In opening her soul to God all else was on the line: reputation, honor, acceptance and security.

In my mind's eye others have paraded through the manger to worship, but I'd never considered Mary's worship. Her "yes," to God's invitation opened the way for heaven to come down. Gabriel came announcing Good News to one who worshiped by surrendering her will to God as she carried  Jesus into the world. Mary knew whose Son she carried, and so she worshiped in spirit and in truth. She worshiped the Baby she bore. Do we?

We, too, are called to accept an invitation. Jesus longs to dwell in us: "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My father will love him, and we will make our home with Him." John 14:23 

Paul reminds us, "Do you not know, that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16

Even a small yes welcomes Someone in the door.

This Advent season may our yielding to His will, His Way and His Presence bring healing to our broken world. May we fall on our knees to worship the One who came to save His people from their sin.


Medicine from Sacred Writings:

"How is the Infinite in a womb,

how is He that contains all things carried, as unborn, by a woman; 

how is it the Virgin bears, and continues a virgin? 

How, I pray thee, did the Spirit frame that temple?"

John Chrysostom Fourth Century

THE KEEPER OF THE FOUNTAIN

Leaves have swirled, fallen from heaven. Day after day, week after week, month after month they drop and I have yet to capture the essence of their beauty. Like my days spilling over a fountain of life, I am grasping for meaning, gasping for air, but am unable. Overwhelmed, vulnerable, stripped bare by the passage of time, I too, find myself unmasked by the Voice of the Lord who strips the forest bare. 

I stand in His presence, and then I bow, bending under the weight of time, change, sorrow, sadness, joy and love. All these held in terrible tension. Eyes raised to heaven I can only whisper, "I lift up my eyes to the hills~ where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let my foot slip~ He who watches over me will not slumber." Psalm 121:1-3

Need Someone to watch over you?

Medicine from Sacred Writings:

"The Spirit comes gently and makes Himself known…

the Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true Friend and protector

to save, to heal, to teach, to strengthen, to console...

All your life long will your Guardian, the Comforter, abide with you.

He will care for you, as for His own soldier; 

for your going out and your coming in and your plotting foes. 

And He will give you gifts of grace of every kind.”

Cyrl of Jerusalem said this in the fourth century: