The child had a hard time letting go - An Advent Reflection

The child had a hard time letting go — letting go of anything she could find security in: a blanket, a teddy bear, or whatever else seemed to sate, even in a small way, the great need she had for her father’s love.

But little by little, as she was stripped of this or that — as though her fingers being pried one-by-one away — she began to get the message that there was something more for her elsewhere; that, unless stripped, she could not receive.

Yes, in the distance she could vaguely see the father beckoning her to come… But in coming, the only thing that would fit through the door, the “eye of the needle,” was herself. Not the blanket, the teddy bear, or even the plan or agenda she had for her self, or the schedule she needed to keep…

She was being called to surrender all; to have the “Fiat” of Mary, who is the “gateway” to the “door”. And, she had to match the door of total self-sacrifice, which is Christ, in order to fit through to the other side.

And, so, we ask: What are we being called to surrender still more… to let go of still more, this Advent Season?

What is right before us? What are the challenges and sufferings we find in our lives at this time that are calling forth a stripping — a prying back of our fingers from what we might hold onto; in which we find our identity?… our security?

And, can we see, as does this little girl, vaguely in the distance, the Father, beckoning us as well, to COME … come and receive the love for which we long; as we pass through the Hearts of Jesus and Mary to reach Him…

“Enter through the narrow gate; … For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mat 7:13,14)..”I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (Jn 10:9)… “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” (Rom 8:15).