God with us is not some abstract theological theory, but a lived experience if we do not fear the process needed in order for that to become a reality
The season of Advent brings to the fore the importance of waiting, patience and endurance. We all have rites of passage in our lives, some we look forward to. While with others it can be with longing mixed with anxiety and fear. A rite of passage means to leave on kind of life for another one. Usually it is a move into a bigger more expansive world, though with an often heavy cost. Yet a price well worth paying if we in fact want to grow and to expand. So in the Advent Season if it is more than just gift giving (as wonderful as that is), it can lead to a deeper understanding of the nature of God’s love for us as well as how we are to live our lives.
Our hearts are the Manger in which Christ Jesus is born, and as we grow in love and union with Him, the incarnation becomes more concrete as we allow our hearts to be broke open and to feel our deepest longings to be seen and loved.
God with us is not some abstract theological theory, but a lived experience if we do not fear the process needed in order for that to become a reality. We cling to our fears; they can become walls of protection that keeps us childish and fearful. To move into the unknown with trust is what allows grace to become ever more apparent in our lives and hearts. Slowly as we mature, Christ Jesus becomes real, one with our flesh, and we become healers for all that we meet. Such is the true gift of Advent; God with us lived out in our mundane world.
Br.Mark Dohle, OCSO
Holy Spirit Monastery
