The Adoration Of The Shepherds, 1622 by Gerrit van Honthorst He did not wait... till hearts were pure. In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt. to a world like ours, of anguished shame he came, and his Light would not go out. Madeleine L'Engle " First Coming " In Advent we have waited in darkness for the coming light. Sometimes the darkness feels harsh and overwhelming. Sometimes it creeps up on us and silently smothers our joy. At other times it can feel more purposeful like...

[ A seed contains all the life and loveliness of the flower, but it contains it in a little hard black pip of a thing, which even the glorious sun will not enliven unless it is buried under the earth.  There must be a period of gestation before anything can flower.   Advent is not only a time of growth but also a time of darkness and hiding and waiting…and trust.   For nine months Christ grew in His Mother’s body.  By His own will she formed Him from herself, from the simplicity of her daily...

The Annuncation by Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937) Angel:   Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.  Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. Mary:   Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.   Luke 1:30-32, 38 Mary Considers Her Situation What next, she wonders, With the angel...