Advent Reflection

"God had ordained to prepare humanity slowly and tenderly through a long process of historical events and moral and spiritual maturation before exposing the fullness of Himself...God still seems to maintain an infinite respect before our human limitations. To reveal Himself to us without blinding us at once with the effulgence of His divinity, He prepares us gradually and coaxes us progressively to hear His voice. He first alerts us and awakens our hearts and our intelligence to His reality; then, He invites and earnestly entreats us to open our minds to His divine truths; finally, when we have accepted His truth, He surrenders Himself to us and lets us abide in Him. God never startles us with sudden revelations. He never shows the splendor of His divinity without first preparing us to understand and freely accept it. He never imposes Himself upon us. He patiently waited millions of years to prepare humanity for the direct revelation of Himself."

(From "Christmas" by Archbishop Joseph Raya+)


I heard something along these lines at a retreat this fall, from Katrina Zeno. She said, "God is a lover, not a rapist." Startling, isn't it?

(Icon from Holy Nativity Convent)