Advent is a time of pure waiting and trusting in the lord. During this time we are often invited to mediate and reflect on our saviors birth and the gifts of true joy and hope he bestows upon us. However , if I may divert your attention and kindly invite you to mediate and contemplate on Mary and Joesph’s own waiting and trusting.. In Luke1:26-38, we read about Mary who was visited by the angel Gabriel, who proclaims she will be the mother of the savior .. “ Hail , favored one the Lord is with you”-Luke 1:28 and we also find in Matthew1:20-21 the angel visiting Joesph, “…Joesph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.” In sum, Mary said yes and waiting for Joesph to also say yes. Mary trusted in Gods divine plan for her life and in doing so she was able to trust in Joesph, her spouse, to take her as his wife… To think of Joesph, who trusted in the Lord, after the angel appeared in his dream “ marry Mary because she will bore the child Jesus, though the Holy Spirit. I often think of his male ego, and how he must’ve felt marrying Mary and becoming a father to Jesus. Joseph, had to trust the Lord, but also trust Marys word, trust in her word of being a virgin, clean of original sin. Both Mary and Joseph trusted and waited on the Lord’s promise for their lives and we can all agree it is not easy to trust in the Lord, or to trust in our spouses word. Yet, this humble family remain the perfect example of what it meant to trust in the Lord and to trust in each other..

When in marriage, the “I” becomes “we”, and when we remove the ego, we make space for the Holy Spirit to work in each other and in our lives. I invite you to contemplate on our own marriage or example’s of marriages where trust is the basis and the foundation of their relationship with God and in each other. How many wives can say they trust their husbands enough to lead, provide, and protect, in the way Mary does with Joseph.. How many woman can look to Mary as a model and guide to wholeheartedly trust their husbands the way she does with Joseph? Mary had to trust Joseph would secure a safe place for them about 4 times. How many husbands can say they confidentially trust in their wives word, just as Joseph trusted Mary’s word of being conceived with no sin? How many men can say they look to Joseph as a model of authority and as a guide in knowing how to lead, love, protect and provide the way he does for Mary? How many men can say they allow or make space for the Holy Spirit to move and act in their lives the way Mary and Joseph did?

If advent is indeed a time of waiting and trusting, I’d like to ask the daring question, as a couple to whom do you place your waiting and trust in? I ask do you trust your wife, do you trust your husband in the way Mary and Joseph trust each other. Do you place your trust in the Lord and remove all ego…. Do you trust the Lord with your marriage? Do you trust he will keep his promise? Because Mary and Joseph faced a mountain of uncertainties , when they said ‘yes to placing their trust in God and in each other.

My brothers and sisters in Christ,

In this advent season, let us be like Mary and Joseph, let us learn to remove the ego and place our trust in the Lord. Let us ask the Lord to help us in his divine plan for us, to trust in the Lord and in our spouses. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us allow space for the spirit to work in each other, asking the angel Gabriel to speak to our spouses the way he spoke to Mary and Joseph, to trust the Lord will work in our spouses.

Todays’ reflection was inspired by the following readings:

-Luke1:26-38- & Matthew1:20-21

May the birth of our savior bestow peace in your homes & hearts.

Your brother and sister in Christ,

The Mercados.