Concerning the Divine Word
With the divinest Word, the Virgin
Made pregnant, down the road
Comes walking, if you’ll grant her
A room in your abode
St. John of the Cross. Tr. Roy Campbell
This Advent, let’s “make hospitality our special care.” We are busy about many things because we want to be welcoming and generous hostesses and hosts to those we love, especially at this season of love. But like the friends of Jesus, we may need to hear again his invitation to choose the ‘one thing necessary, the better part’ – friendship with him.
So let’s select some helps towards this hospitality – quiet, stillness, welcome – quiet instead of the noise that passes for Christmas music; stillness instead of the frantic speed of mind, body and spirit that overtakes us at this season; welcome to the Lord-Who-Comes hidden in the Pregnant Virgin of our everyday encounters.
Imagine for a moment how you would respond to the scene painted in the short and disturbing poem of St. John of the Cross. My house? She could be anybody! How can I be sure that it really is God?
Only intimacy with the God-Who-Comes, with Emmanuel can help us answer those questions. And only if we are prepared to listen for the answer.
Emmanuel, God with us and God coming ever closer to us, help us to be open to the ways you come to us this Advent. Make us expectant and hopeful in a world grown stale and distracted. Let us shine like stars, lighting up the darkness that longs for your light.
