Advent this year seems to have a different flavor from any other. It seems that we are all confused in a bewildering world as wars escalate despite efforts at peace, including protests, international delegations for ceasefires, and prayer.
In Europe, we have the war between Russia and Ukraine, resulting in meaningless destruction and horror. In the Middle East, the war is escalating between Israel and Palestine and spilling out in all directions.
Refugees all over the world are fleeing and seeking shelter and hospitality, which can be in short supply — as we know from the “flight into Egypt” — and we, too, experience this reality on our own doorsteps today.
Mother Earth is suffering from floods, droughts, and famine of massive proportions due to global warming. Where do we start? Where do we find hope? What kind of future are we handing on?
When I was a novice, the book The Woman Wrapped in Silence by Fr. John Lynch was a bestseller — a classic epic poem about Mary’s response to God’s intervention in her life. We sat piously with Mary, wrapped in silence as she walked around the dusty roads of Palestine, wondering about what God had asked of her and pondering many things in her spacious heart, open to God, while waiting.
I think we can resonate with her now, wondering, pondering and waiting for a glimmer of hope, trying to believe that the light will overcome the darkness in our fractured world. We look helplessly at the women of Palestine on our screens, totally bewildered. Mary was bewildered and “perplexed,” asking, “How can this be?” and then the Scripture tells us that “the angel left her.” Now she had to allow God to lead her outside of her comfort zone onto a countercultural path at great cost.
“I wait in Mary— darkness, faith’s walled place, with hope’s expectancy of nativity.”
Jessica Powers wrote about Advent: “I wait in Mary— darkness, faith’s walled place, with hope’s expectancy of nativity.”
As we approach Advent, we hold our splintered world as the cradle, knowing that the Word who pitched His tent among us promised to be with us always. His presence is everywhere. Let us mindfully listen for His steps.
Richard Rohr constantly reminds us that we are to welcome the Universal Christ, the Cosmic Christ, the Christ who is forever being born in the human soul and into history. This is the mystery we need to make room for and why we need to wrap ourselves in silence, to be quiet enough, as Tagore says: “Have you heard his silent steps? He ever comes, every moment, every age…” Let’s nurture this mystery and be led.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Sr. Rebecca, from Ireland, is a member of the Missionary Sisters of St. Columban. She began her mission in Korea as an occupational therapist before transitioning to congregational services, including formation. After spending 33 years in Pakistan, where she worked pastorally with the Christian community and engaged in a dialogue of life and work with Muslims, she is now adjusting to life in Ireland. Dialogue was central to her mission approach. Additionally, she served on the Congregation Central Team for the past six years while residing in Pakistan.
