One afternoon, as I sliced a red onion to sauté in butter, the storyboard of my mind floated back to the previous January and the tiny onion seeds that I had planted. I kept the grow lights low. One day, up popped tiny blades that looked like grass. I was so excited! I watered. They grew. Every Saturday, I trimmed back those shoots of green to five inches tall so that they would grow stocky and strong. In March, I tilled the soil and prepared the beds. In late April, I planted small onion plants. Even when our border collie ran through the beds and trampled the tops in July, I kept weeding. I kept watering. Then, in December, one red onion slides off the cutting board to sizzle in the pan.
Mary of the Immaculate Conception was like that one tiny onion seed. Amid the brokenness of the human race, God spent centuries preparing the soil of the Chosen People. Born of the faithful remnant, the anawim, Mary was planted in the rich soil of faith, graced with every spiritual blessing. She was nurtured. She was cared for. She rejoiced and bore fruit. And even after the world had trampled her heart and crucified her Son, the Holy Spirit kept nourishing her with strength.
Do you remember your conception, before you were the size of an onion seed? I don’t either. But if I, as a gardener, can put so much care into one red onion, with how much more care does our Creator tend to us? Even though we are trampled and wounded as part of the human condition, the reading from Ephesians tells us that we too are nourished by Christ with every spiritual blessing. God is a good gardener.
Consider/Discuss
- Mary probably didn’t recall the moment of her conception. But imagine the elation of the angels and the saints at that moment. They were so excited—a human being immaculately conceived! In reflection and prayer, travel back to that day when you were created. See how excited they were about you also. Perhaps not immaculately conceived, but most dearly beloved! Relish their jubilation. Be washed with their love. Be healed, and rejoice.
- Think about what nurtured Mary’s spiritual life—the Psalms, the stories of Moses and the prophets, the prayers of her people. As this Advent continues to unfold, how can we purposefully enrich the soil of faith in which we grow? What do we need to trim back? What will help us to flourish?
Living and Praying with the Word
Lord God, Creator of the universe and our Creator, we remember your continuing kindness and faithfulness toward us. Give us the grace to glorify you by carefully nourishing ourselves and nurturing all those you put into our care. You have made us for yourself. Keep us trimmed. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, pray for our strong and stocky spiritual growth.