Make Way for the Lord with Mary

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths” [Mark 1:3].

The season of Advent is our time to clear away the stumbling blocks within our heart and soul as we prepare to celebrate the first coming of Christ our Savior. Opening ourselves to Jesus Christ, we make way for new life within us and in our world.

This new life was made possible when the Blessed Virgin said to the Angel Gabriel: “May it be done to me according to your word.”  [Luke 1:38] Mary’s openness to the love of God, by her own free will, brought new life into this world—the life of Jesus Christ. Our Savior lived within Mary, lived through Mary, and was born from Mary to dwell among us for the sake of our salvation.

This season of Advent, let us reach out to Mary for her maternal guidance. The Mother of God and the Mother of all People is the Church’s model of faith, hope, and charity. Mary’s yes to God is a blessed gift to each of us. Like Mary, when we say yes to God, we make way for the coming of new life: that is salvation for ourselves and for the world through our faith, our hope, and our love. 

Prepare the Way

First, consider Mary’s Immaculate Conception. Bearing no stain of original sin, no barriers or obstacles blocked Mary’s faith in God. Filled with God’s graces and blessings, Mary’s hope for humanity remained steadfast as she shared the love of God throughout her life’s journey.

Although we are born with original sin, our Baptism cleanses us to make way for the Spirit of the Lord. True, we are susceptible to sinful temptation on our life’s journey. However, the graces and blessings we receive through our faithful devotion to prayer, the Holy Mass, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation clear the way into our heart and soul for God’s love to take hold, giving us the light of hope for our daily living.

This way allows us to enter into the intimacy of the Trinitarian life. We are God’s beloved children, brothers and sisters in Christ, by way of the Holy Spirit. Should we ever falter, let us remember the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe. On the mount of Tepeyac, Mary said to Juan Diego “I want to hear your pleadings and to cure your ills and your sorrow.” Mary gives us consolation and confidence when we reach out to her in prayer. 

Coming of our Savior

Truly, by our prayers, repentance, and participation at Mass, we can be refreshed and renewed during this season of Advent, even in the most difficult of times. As we share in the preparation for our Savior’s first coming, we renew our ardent desire for our Lord’s second coming. We make way for the Lord.  

With the help of Mary's loving intercession, the Son of God comes to live within us and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. The closer we are to our Lord, the closer we are to our perfection. The desire to sin no longer has a hold on us to block our way to salvation. As our Lord grows within us, we experience new life filled with faith, hope, and love to share with one another especially in these challenging times. Amen!