Fourth Sunday of Advent

Dear Sister,

Sometimes I have a hard time believing. Some things just feel impossible. Will I ever be freed of doubt? Will he ever be healed from his suffering? Will she ever find the answers she’s looking for? 

Are You as good as they say You are? 

I look at Mary, and I can’t believe she believed so well. She was a young girl who simply believed. She took our Lord at His word. She believed Him when He said it would happen in this way. She knew He was faithful to His word.

Oh, to live with trust like that.

Pope Benedict XVI says this of Mary’s faith: “It is the profound humility of the obedient faith of Mary, who welcomes within her even what she does not understand in God’s action, leaving it to God to open her mind and heart.”*

Phew, do I struggle to understand so many things! I’m confused, I don’t have the whole picture, I just wish I knew how all the puzzle pieces will fall into place.

Mary didn’t understand, yet she trusted that God would open her mind and heart to the whole story. To reveal it to her according to His plan for her good.

To each one of us who doesn’t understand, here is the formula: We must leave it to God to open our minds and hearts.

We must trust. Even when. Even if. Even there. Even in that place. Even in that situation. Even in that problem.

Even everything.

We must make an act of trust in our Lord’s presence and providence, right now, today. Say with me: Jesus, I trust in You.

You are a good, good Father. And we place our trust in You.

Love,

Jenna

O Antiphon:

O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:

come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

* Benedict  XVI, General Audience. Wednesday, 19 December 2012.