in all the ODD places

Wednesday of the 3^rd Week of Advent

Luke 1:26-38

artist, Brother Martin OSB, used with permission St. Meinrad Archabbey 

Today’s Gospel reading gives us the story of the visit; Angel Gabriel to Mary.

Mary receives the message

“…and so became the dwelling-place of divinity,

filled with the light of the Holy Spirit”

-from today’s collect prayer

What if, in our searching, we turn the phrase around? 

What if we look hard to seek and find the light of the Holy Spirit?

And what if, when we find it, we take note of the details?

If we turn the phrase around 

we might not get tunneled into our purest visions of Mary,

blue robes, porcelain white skin, snake and globe and all. 

This is a story for the whole cosmos!

I am reminded of that country song

‘Looking for love in all the wrong places’

The analogy doesn’t quite work

…but how about if we look for the light of the Holy Spirit in all the ODD places,

will we find her?

I think,

if we are really looking,

we will find her

…no matter where we look.

Our job is to look with eager anticipation

And become, however incomplete,

An incidence worth finding!

Hail Mary

Make me a dwelling place!