We begin a new day of the Little Journeys of the Virgin, an Advent path that prepares us interiorly for Christmas. It is not just about remembering the journey of Mary and Joseph, but about walking with them, learning to wait, to accept deprivation, and to prepare the heart for the adoration of the Child who is coming. Each day places us in a stage of this spiritual itinerary, inviting us to advance with fidelity, silence, and hope toward Bethlehem.
INITIAL PRAYER
Before beginning the journey
Lord our God,
Eternal Father, origin of every fulfilled promise,
in the silence of Advent we set out on the path before You.
We know where we are going and with Whom we walk.
You have willed that Your Son not come suddenly, but slowly,
gestated in the faith of a Virgin,
guarded by the silence of a just man,
awaited step by step, day after day.
And in that humble path You have taught us
that salvation does not burst forth with clamor,
but arrives walking little by little.
Today we want to accompany Mary of Nazareth,
Immaculate Virgin and believing Mother,
on her silent march toward Bethlehem.
We want to walk with Saint Joseph, blessed Patriarch,
faithful man who sustains without possessing the mystery that saves the world.
And we want to prepare the heart
to welcome the Child who is coming,
the eternal Word who becomes flesh
without demanding place or forcing doors,
without imposing His Love.
Purify, Lord, our memory,
so that the path may not be merely remembrance, but conversion.
Awaken in us a simple hope, capable of rejoicing even in rejection,
and a humble joy that does not depend on being consoled, but on knowing oneself loved.
May these Little Journeys teach us to walk slowly,
not to anticipate the end, nor flee from weariness, nor close the heart.
Make us interior pilgrims, so that when we arrive in Bethlehem,
we do not pass by, but know how to adore.
Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who comes to us in poverty
and lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
and is God forever and ever.
Amen.
Today we leave behind the first heights and the path leads us toward Nain, as the ancient tradition of the Little Journeys indicates. The trail becomes more rocky. It is not a great ascent nor a great descent, but one of those routes that tire because they offer no relief.
I walk at your side, my Virgin. Today you go on foot. The little donkey advances slowly, guided by Joseph, and I notice how the morning cold mixes with the weariness that begins to be felt in the body. It is not yet exhaustion, but it is no longer novelty. The path begins to weigh.
—Little Virgin —I say to you—, now that the enthusiasm of the beginning fades a bit, what sustains the heart?
You do not respond right away. You smile and continue walking. Then you say:
—The certainty that God fulfills what He promises, even if the path does not confirm it.
We enter Nain. There are people, noise, and haste. No one seems to notice us. I look at the faces and am surprised by the indifference. No one imagines Whom you carry in your womb. No one suspects that the Savior passes so close. I approach Joseph. I see him attentive, vigilant, ensuring that nothing is lacking for You.
—My father and lord —I say to him—, does it hurt you that no one sees what God is doing?
Joseph, pulling on the donkey’s halter, responds with serenity:
—It would hurt me more not to care for it.
We look for a place to rest a little. Doors crack open, close, make excuses. There is no violent rejection, but neither welcome. And I feel a silent complaint arising within me.
—My Lady —I confess to You—, it is hard for me to accept this lack of welcome.
You look at me with a firm sweetness:
— God’s fidelity bypasses the welcome of men.
We continue onward. Nain is left behind. The path goes on. This day speaks to me of the first disappointments, of when one begins to realize that following God does not guarantee understanding or ease. But I also discover that there is no failure when one walks in obedience, even if no one applauds, even if no one understands.
Prayer
Father and my Lord Saint Joseph, blessed Patriarch and faithful custodian,
teach me to care for the mystery even if it is not recognized,
to protect the holy even if it goes unnoticed.
Uproot from me the need to be seen and give me the grace to be faithful,
to sustain with my clumsy hands what God entrusts to me.
Little Virgin Child, my Immaculate Mother, humble and silent Lady,
when the path becomes rough and the heart begins to tire,
teach me not to turn back.
Guard me from sterile complaint and give me your serene faith,
that faith that walks even without receiving consolation.
And You, Child Jesus who are coming,
hidden Savior, who pass among men without being recognized,
enter my life even if I do not know how to welcome You well.
Do not stop because of my clumsiness, do not retreat because of my coldness.
Come, even if there is no perfect inn in me,
and teach me to keep walking to the end, with You.
By: Msgr. Alberto José González Chaves
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