Mary’s Yes
A Reflection by Kathleen McInnis Kichline
Mary’s yes, at the intersection of heaven and earth, is not just a moment in time; it transcends time and empowers the future, a future of which we are a part. “The one thing she did and does is the one thing we all have to do, to bear Christ into the world,”
Advent is our time to ponder such things, to become aware of the then and now dimension of Christ’s coming. “Advent is absolutely essential to our contemplation. If we have truly given our humanity to be changed into Christ, it is essential to us that we not distort this time of growth. It is a time of darkness, of faith. . . We must believe that he is growing in our lives; we must believe it so firmly that we cannot help relating everything, literally everything, to this almost incredible reality that makes every moment of our day and night a prayer.”
“May Christ be born in you.” This is our Advent greeting to one another. Christmas tells us that God has every intention of showing up in our lives. Christmas is not relegated to the distant past; it is a present reality. And the beginning of that is our “yes,” like Mary’s. In Advent, we say yes to God’s invitation to invade our very being and lives. We say yes to becoming Christ-bearers to a needy world today.
Like Mary, we are not asked to perform heroics, hasten off to a nunnery, or enjoy privilege. She continued to live the simple life of a carpenter’s wife in a small village during a dark and dangerous time. “She began at once, as she stood up before the angel and uttered her fiat, to live all our lives, and Christ in her was subject to the unknown, to the hazards of life in the world, as He is in us.”
In this, there is great hope for us as well. For “there is one cure for fear—trust in God. That is why the beginning of Christ being formed in us consists in echoing Our Lady’s fiat. It is a surrender, a handing over of everything to God.” [4]
Kathleen McInnis Kichline, Sacred Self Sacred Community facilitator
Kathleen is part of our Sacred Self, Sacred Community program starting in January. Learn more at our last information meeting December 13th.
Kathleen is known for her many Scripture studies and retreats as we partner with her ministry Sisters in Scripture often. She now has a precious children’s book out. Please take a look: Terrance McPhee and the Toy Eating Tree.
Share Your Thoughts
How are you preparing for Advent?