The season of Advent is upon us. It is the time of year when we prepare for the coming of the Lord, both as the infant Son of God born in a lowly manger, and also as our Triumphant King in His second coming when he will reign for all eternity.
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December 3
“To be a field for the word means to be earth which allows itself to be absorbed by the seed, which assimilates itself to the seed, renouncing itself so as to make the seed germinate. With her motherhood Mary transfused into it her very substance, body and soul, so that a new life might come forth…Mary makes herself completely available as the soil, she allows herself to be used and consumed so as to be transformed into him.
-Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI)
on Mary’s motherhood
For Reflection
Underline the words in Cardinal Ratzinger’s quote which characterize Mary’s evangelical surrender. Are these action words or passive words? What does this indicate about surrender and the spiritual life? To what extent am I seeking, or even willing, to be such “earth?” What presses me on? What holds me back? Mary, help of all Christians, pray for me. (See tomorrow’s GraceLine for a key to Mary’s success).
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December 2
“Evangelical surrender is directed towards receiving God’s word. It is like the ploughing which enables the soil to be ‘good soil’ capable of receiving the divine seed, the seed of life.”
-Father Marie-Dominque Philippe, O.P.
For Reflection
According to Father Philippe, what is the relationship between surrender and reception of the “divine seed, the seed of life?” How does Mary demonstrate evangelical surrender to God after Angel Gabriel’s announcement? On a scale of 1-10, how do I rank my evangelical surrender with 1 being “unyielding” and 10 being “Marian?” How can I work to move myself forward this Advent season? (Tomorrow’s GraceLine may give you “Mary-like” insights).
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December 1
“… [Mary] was predestined first of all to be Mother of God. And the precise reason why the fullness of glory and grace was given her was to make her of it to be the mother of Christ, as St. Thomas expresses it.”
-Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P.
For Reflection
When in Sacred Scripture do we first learn of Mary’s predestination to be the Mother of God? (Hint: It is in the Old Testament in the first book.) What does this suggest about God’s own preparation for the coming of Jesus? What aspect of this preparation does the quote detail? Consider this in light of Angel Gabriel’s salutation to Mary, “Hail, full of grace… (Lk. 1:28). What sacrament was both my preparation for Christ as well as my initial reception of Him? As a chosen daughter of the Most High God, I, too, have been called to be a Christ-bearer. How can I cooperate with grace to prepare for Jesus and to receive Him anew this Christmas?
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