By Sister Catherine Cleary, OSB

“I have the immense joy of being man, a member of a race in which God Himself became incarnate. As if the sorrows and stupidities of the human condition could overwhelm me, now that I realize what we all are. And if only everybody could realize this! But it cannot be explained. There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.” Thomas Merton

Advent is a wonderful time to reflect on the meaning of the Incarnation. As Thomas Merton says, it is joy that we are members of the race in which God becomes incarnate. Indeed, the person and symbol of Jesus completes the circle of love of the Creator.

So all the members of our race are joined together; we are not alone. We are “all walking around shining like the sun.”

As God’s light in Galilee radiated the Holy One’s presence, that same sun today radiates the presence of Jesus Christ to us. This is the gift of the Incarnation.

And so this advent let us ask:

1) How can we radiate Christ’s light to others?

2) How can we be hope to others? To those we live with, as well as to those homeless and hungry on the street.

3) What changes can we make interiorly so that our hearts do “not become drowsy with the anxieties of daily life.”  (Lk 21:  25-28; 34-36)

Blessings upon your Advent journey.