This Advent Series, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, helps us to imagine the longing the Israelites must have felt as they waited for Jesus the Messiah to come, and it helps us to grapple with the longing we feel now as we wait for His return.
Attention to Mary is valuable in that we learn from her what is true about God’s words and actions, his regard and his love for his creation, but we are intended to move beyond her to the source of all her hope and happiness, to the One to whom she has completely turned. We learn from her actions to turn to God in prayer, to lay ourselves down completely before his will in utter surrender, to turn with a joyous face to God no matter what our personal situation may be. Our own suffering and difficulties do not make God into anything less than loving and good—Mary shows us that the quality of true worship of God stretches beyond our own joys and sorrows. All glory belongs to God.
Even in dark times, God brings blessing. We often think of blessings in material terms, but God’s blessings go beyond that to people, places, freedom, and deliverance. He has blessed before, and he will bless again, and we are to count on him for every blessing.