the promise of the life of light

​   Christmas is rapidly approaching, more rapidly than most years. The fourth week of Advent is less than 24 hours! There are surely last minute-preparations, and it may be easy, in such compressed time, to get swept into agitation. Let us bear in mind, in the midst of everything, that the preparation that matters most is that of the heart. And, whose Christmas preparation better to imitate than that of Mary? Whose assistance better to seek than that of Mary? If there is someone who knows how to prepare the coming of Christ, it is Mary.

     How did Mary prepare? Aside from the expected material preparations, we see Mary “treasure all these things in her heart”. Twice in the gospel of Luke this is mentioned about Mary: at the visit of the shepherds and at the finding of the 12-year-old boy Jesus in the Temple. Mary practiced gratitude and let herself be in awe. If we take time to be quiet, just a few moments, in the midst of everything, I am certain gratitude and awe will surface in us. We have every reason to be grateful and in awe.

     As Christmas rapidly approaches, may the words of St. Bede (+735), the English monk and only native of Great Britain to be declared a Doctor of the Church, carry us through any complexity or challenges associated with the holidays.

          Christ is the Morning Star,
          who, when the night of this world is past,
          gives to his saints the promise of the light of life,
          and opens everlasting day. 

Looking forward with you,
Fr. Dominique Brother in Christ​