My favorite "Advent poem"

[MariaChristi]

The Wayfaring Virgin

The Wayfaring Virgin
Word in her womb
comes walking your way-
Haven’t you room for your Virgin and Mother?
Haven’t you room?
When Bethlehem’s coldness
bids her depart
O say to the virgin:
Come to my heart
with your heavenly burden
Come to my heart.

• St. John of the Cross

This is a poem I keep in my Bible to pray at other times besides Advent, but it is especially appropriate during this holy season. Perhaps at no other time in history was our Mother Mary treated with such coldness by so many people in the world. When Jesus was in her womb, she bore the coldness of those in Bethlehem, after He was born she bore the hatred of Herod seeking to kill Him , and on Calvary the hatred of those who crucified her Son. Those were very hurtful times yet compared to our day when we have had revealed to us by the power of the Holy Spirit, the great Mercy of God given to us in Jesus through Mary, it seems to me she suffers even more from us, who’ve been given so much and give so litttle in return.

Come Holy Spirit, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Awaken us to all that God desires for each one He has created. Mary, Mother and Model for the Church, pray with us and for us, that we may make reparation for our sins and the sins of the world this Advent especially. By your intercession and the power of the Holy Spirit, may we share with the world – God’s Great Love, given in Jesus, through you. Amen.