Tuesday of the First Week of Advent
I remember my mom telling me her “annunciation” story. Mom was pregnant with my sister Lauren. My crazy, fun-loving sister is high-functioning autistic. The doctor asked my mom if she wanted to do a special sonogram that could detect any abnormalities that the baby could have, and my mom said to the doctor, straightforward, “No, because no matter what we are going to keep this child.” My mom would go on to say, “it was like my annunciation, God asking me ‘will you take this special child of mine?’”
In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus praising the Father, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike.” Jesus thanks God the Father for reversing the roles, making the smart and the prideful ridiculous and the weak and childlike look like mighty warriors! My sister Lauren, in her crazy, fun-loving way, has taught our family to trust in God and try to be humble. Through the Holy Spirit, she has taught us the knowledge and the power of God – she has this beautiful gift of learning and remembering birthdays of everyone she gets to know!
Always remember to humble yourself like a child so, that, in that childlike humility you may shame the wise and correct the sinner, through Jesus.
Reflection by Br. Maximilian Burkhart, OSB
Posted in Articles for Advent, Daily Reflections