Dear Friend,

Reflection by Mary Landriau, LSCW

The Hospitality of Advent

There are two beautiful statues in the Immaculate Conception Chapel on the main campus of Seton Hall University. The one on the right as you look at the altar is of Mary holding the infant Jesus. The one on the left is of Jesus as a young boy with Joseph. I would like to reflect on how these statues have moved me every time I attend Mass and how they might have special relevance during this season of Advent.

Firstly, the statue of Mary. It is hard not to notice how beautiful and young she is, innocent in many ways, yet so wise. Her face is so trusting and calm, trusting in the Lord’s call to her. Yet, as a mother myself, I also notice some telling body language. I see how she gently juts her hip out a bit, perhaps for balance, maybe to create a soothing rocking motion. It reminds me of when I too rocked my infants on my hips, usually while trying to do multiple things at once. I see how Jesus is touching Mary’s face and hand and I recall the many times my own children would touch my face or play with my hair. Another gesture I notice, and what strikes me most is the intimacy with which she places her hand on Jesus’ heart. Her tender touch of love, protecting him from falling, but holding him near to her heart portrays the love and intimacy of mother and Son. These simple motherly expressions are so recognizable and intimately human in their tenderness and love. Yet, this is not just any son. Jesus is the Word Incarnate! To remind us of Jesus’ divinity, we see, even as an infant, he has a halo. He is the holy one of God. What a beautiful image and reminder to show us Jesus as the Word Incarnate in his full humanity and full divinity.

Looking at the statue of Jesus as a young boy with Joseph, you get the impression that Joseph is handing on something to Jesus, perhaps he is even holding the Torah, the Jewish scrolls, the Word of God. Jesus looks eager to learn and Joseph looks proud. Joseph’s posture is one of patience. The Word Incarnate is being handed the Word! Again, what a beautiful image and reminder of Jesus’ full humanity and full divinity. Jesus, now as a young boy, is mimicking the gesture He must have learned from Mary when she placed her hand over his heart. Now Jesus has his own hand over his heart, the same heart he offered to you and me for our salvation on the Cross. Jesus, fully divine, humbled himself by becoming fully human and offered Himself as a sacrifice for our salvation.

During this time of Advent, we wait in joyful hope and prepare for the Incarnation, when God became man and dwelt among us. God became flesh. He assumed a human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity. Advent is time for us to prepare to ready ourselves for this mystery of the Incarnation. As the Church, we wait during Advent and look forward to celebrating the fact that God loves us so much that he sent his Son into the world to save us. This waiting is far from empty, rather, it is full of the hope that God promises us as we prepare for Christ in the feast of Christmas. We prepare our hearts, our homes, and our relationships with God and each other for this immeasurable gift. In Advent, we celebrate and anticipate the earth-shaking, life-transforming good news that God is coming to us. At Mass, after praying the Lord’s Prayer, we hear “. . . as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” This prayer reminds us that during Advent, we wait in joy, in hope, and in anticipation for the wonderful event we are about to experience, the feast of Christmas, the coming of Christ into our lives in new ways, and the return of Christ in glory at the end of time. Watch out. Get ready. God is on the way.

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Mary Landriau, LSCW,  is a Faculty Associate and Director of BSW Field Education in the Social Work Department at Seton Hall University. She is committed to and passionate about the prevention and treatment of those who suffer from alcohol and drug addiction and mental health related disorders, particularly adolescents. She has provided direct practice and supervision in the social work field for over 30 years. She is actively involved in ministry at St. Bernard of Clairvaux and St. Stanislaus Kostka, in Plainfield, NJ. She is also presently pursuing her Masters in Pastoral Theology at the Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall University.