Room in our Hearts

Friday, December 22, 2023

I have mentioned before that "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is my favorite Christmas song.

The words "Prepare Him room" have been present to me this Advent.

“Not one of us would have designed a situation in which Joseph had to knock on doors to find a place for the Christ Child to be born. That's Divine Wisdom. The infant Jesus neither needed nor wanted luxury; He needed and wanted love. He needs and wants only a simple room in our hearts.” John Cardinal O'Connor - Founder of the Sisters of Life

This quote spoke to my heart as I read the Sisters of Life Christmas card.

Room in our hearts.

Mary prepared her Son room.

She became a tabernacle and proclaimed, Holy is His Name.

"But because of the purity of Mary's heart, she is able to receive the spoken Word from God and magnify that Word with perfect reverberation and echo. Mary's heart is perfectly shaped to receive the Word of God, for she is completely available to God."

Rejoice! An Advent Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture by Fr. Mark Toups

Mary's example of availability is an example for us all.

She had no control over when and where she would make room.

Yet, she made room.

Room in her heart and she invites us to do the same.

“Ask the Lord to bless your heart so that you may know his love.” Rejoice! An Advent Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture by Fr. Mark Toups

Painting by Erin McAtee