Everyday I ask the Lord to be used by Him, to be a vessel of His
love to the world. More often than not, I feel like I fail when I find
myself breathless and disheveled at the end of the day, wondering where
did the day go and hard-pressed to find something to show for it.
I watched a theater reader production yesterday of the story of the
birth of Jesus and although I knew the story well, I pondered the story
of Mary, a Jewish teenager and this morning, as I wondered about the
incredible blessing to be literally filled with God, it hit me.
Her journey, being heavily pregnant wasn't easy. The road was hard
and uncomfortable. At a time when she was to be resting the most, she
was participating in a grueling journey devoid of so many comfort
travelers in our present times enjoy. And she was carrying God. Instead
of being comforted with divine miracles and unexpected providence of
material comfort, the road was barren, difficult, unyielding.
Could it be the same for us? As Mary's body stretched with baby Jesus,
should our souls stretch to accomodate God? As she experienced the
physical discomfort from carrying the Messiah, should we experience
spiritual discomfort from letting God invade us and stretch our
presupposed boundaries? As the journey was difficult for Mary, is it
possible that our christian walk could be difficult and unyielding and
devoid of warm, fuzzy feelings all the time?
Yielding fully to God is asking Him in His infinite greatness to come
inhabit our minute smallness. And He comes down and start stretching us
so that He can completely fill us. That is the only way for Him to
abide in us. So, in this advent season, as you are feeling extended
beyond your limits of selflessness, thank Him and keep asking God to
fill you more. In God, the grace of reaching out to difficult relatives,
inviting mean coworkers to Christmas service, turning the other cheek
once more to a hurt from a spouse is limitless. And He is slowly filling
us with grace as He is stretching us with His presence. I pray that
this is an encouragement to us all in this Christmas season. The road
was difficult but at the end of the journey, the fullness of God came to
dwell with us. Halleluiah.
May our Blessed Lord fill you with His presence and reaffirm in your
heart that He came for you. May the joy of His coming into our world
fill you. May you share this hope with others close to you!
