Third Week of Advent: Praying With Joy
What a joyful hymn of praise Our Blessed Mother’s advent prayer must have been! We know that Mary’s spiritual life was formed by her immersion in sacred scriptures, like: “Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals” (Zeph. 3); “The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Neh. 8:10); and “Joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 49).
While our heavenly mother is immaculate and full of grace, she is human and had her struggles as she journeyed toward Bethlehem. However, her prayer life was deep—it was not an intermittent activity—but an ongoing relationship with Jesus, her son. In fact, she lived fully in the Trinitarian embrace of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. She lived what St. Paul would later preach: “pray without ceasing” and “rejoice in the Lord always … The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God” (Phil. 4:4-7). Who knows if Paul received inspiration from the stories he heard from the apostles—accounts of the Mother of God—whose holy life of deep interior recollection radiated joy to all she encountered. She had learned to rejoice in her daily duties of cooking, cleaning and accompanying the holy family and the community of apostles. Her life of union with God in simplicity and hiddenness had been transformed into an unending song of praise. It is no wonder that in the time of her Advent waiting she was impelled by her love to go forth to her cousin Elizabeth’s house and sing her Magnificat: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Lk. 1:46).
Even the seven swords of sorrow that later pierced Mary’s pure heart couldn’t drive the joy from her soul’s depth. In her humble prayer’s purity, she received God’s signs in everything and pondered the angelic message to the shepherds on that holiest of nights: “Be not afraid … I bring you good news of a great joy … For to you is born a Savior.” Mary teaches us that prayer is an ongoing relationship with God, who dwells within. Her deepest joy is found in God alone. She intercedes that each of us may find the complete joy promised us by Jesus, who comes again to our needy hearts this Christmas. Mother Mary, pray for us and teach us to practice the presence of God.
Mother Mary, pray for us and teach us to practice the presence of God.
