Truly little?

To enter into the marvelous atmosphere of Advent and fully taste the characteristic grace of this liturgical period, we are invited to follow the path that leads to the Heart of the Mother of Jesus, the One who was expected, is coming, has already come, and remains with us forever—"Emmanuel"—God with us.

With Mary we go to Nazareth, and from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It is a road paved with great simplicity, great humility, where we pay particular attention to small things, where nothing is taken for granted, but where everything on the journey is an occasion to give thanks. The name of this journey is littleness and no one finds it unless he or she leaves the tortuous paths of self-sufficiency.

We cannot enter into the Heart of Mary—in her mystery of grace—if we do not engage in this path and decide to become truly little! To live Advent with Mary means to convert to what the world despises and judges weak—namely, littleness. In the Gospel, Jesus says it plainly: "Verily I say unto you, if ye be not converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18: 3).

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