Dear Friend,

Saturday of the Third Week of Advent

Reflection by Rev. Msgr. Joseph R. Reilly

Thousands of times. Literally. Over the course of my ten years living at Immaculate Conception Seminary, thousands, and thousands of times I made my way up those steps leading to the Chapel of Christ the Good Shepherd. But this morning I found myself stopped in my tracks. The photo above is an image of what was before my eyes. I could not move. Author Edwin O’Connor in his book The Edge of Sadness captures almost poetically what was in my heart one week ago in the darkness of that early morning:

Here the stillness of the night seems to have quite another quality from the stillness of the day: something far more positive than the mere absence of noise; there is a sense of solitude which is immense, boundless; one suddenly feels the consecrated space … Something, a feeling of awe, of being a little overwhelmed, pulls me up, and I hesitate at the door.

I went that morning because I was curious – a strange admixture of interest and intrigue (and hopefully a bit of genuine faith and good desire!). I had never attended a Rorate Caeli Mass before. The invitation described it with these words: “As the candlelit Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the Chapel will become progressively brighter, illumined by the sun, just as Jesus Christ and the mysteries we celebrate will illuminate our faith.”  It sounded beautiful. I was not disappointed. God never disappoints – God surprises, unsettles, overwhelms for sure, but never disappoints.

Friday, December 9th at 6 AM in the Seminary Chapel was no exception. I felt the consecrated space. The feeling of being overwhelmed pulled me upward, and I hesitated at the door. As I paused there in that familiar space, the tears welled up in my eyes. To this day, I cannot comprehend God’s awesomeness and my own unworthiness before Him.

There is something in us, put there by God, something that cannot help being drawn into and bowled over by God’s love and power, his goodness and beauty. I believe it’s actually at the heart of the Advent season. It’s God’s way, through his holy Church, to “ready” our hearts for the greatest and most awesome of mysteries – the Incarnation.  The all-powerful God who created heaven and earth assumed our human nature in the person of Jesus Christ, born of Mary on Christmas. It’s almost too much to take in – so much so that it overwhelms you! 

Today, December 17th, the focus of the prayers and readings for Mass now shift to Jesus’s first coming in humility at Bethlehem. He is born of Mary, who also takes center stage for the coming days. Like at the Rorate Caeli Mass, we turn to Mary with expectant hope. We look to Mary as an example of faith. We trust in Mary and her path of humble acceptance. We abide with Mary, who was patient as God’s plan unfolded in his time and on his terms.

Prayer:

Amidst the beckoning stillness of these final days of Advent may you and I allow God to do what needs to be done in our hearts. May God remove what is casual make it intentional. May God take away what remains in darkness in my life and yours and bring his holy and redeeming light. May God overcome what is anxious in you and me with a deep and abiding trust in his love, his personal love. May God cleanse what is selfish and sinful in me and in you and restore us to life with his merciful love. May all of the “spaces” of our hearts be consecrated to the One who came to bring us life. Come Lord Jesus! Overwhelm us with your loving presence. Amen.

Know someone who may be interested in receiving our daily reflection emails? Invite them to sign up by visiting our subscription page.

Rev. Msgr. Joseph Reilly, S.T.L., Ph.D., former Rector/Dean, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. He holds a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, a licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) from Pontificio Istituto Teresianum, Rome, and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Fordham University. He has served as a member of the Archdiocesan Priest Personnel Board, the Advisory Committee on Continuing Education and Ongoing Formation of Priests, the Archdiocesan Vocations Board, and the Board of Trustees of Seton Hall University. Pope John Paul II named him a Chaplain to His Holiness in 2005, with the title of Reverend Monsignor. In 2016 during the Holy Year of Mercy, the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization sought priests who were living signs "of the Father's welcome to all those in search of His forgiveness." He was the only priest from the Archdiocese of Newark formally commissioned as a Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis.