"He has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant." LK 1:48

Somehow in the night I began thinking about the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Christmas cards often picture them with a donkey but they may well have gone the whole way on foot. When they got there the inn was full so they had to make do with the covering of a stable. Their position in the world was lowly. And we know from all that Mary said and did that she had no other desire except to do the will of God. ( I remember this phrase: "have not other desire except to do the Will of God" from my youthful reading of John of the Cross!)
"Behold the servant of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word." Luke 1:38. Mary was poor in spirit. She knew well that all is gift. She received love from God with an open heart her whole life. This love made her strong in adversity so that she stood by the cross of Jesus. And she did not abandon the disciples of Jesus after he died. I think we can presume with St. Ignatius that she was there when Jesus rose from the dead. And she was there in the Cenacle after the Ascension. Acts 1:14
It seems to me that she was wholeheartedly poor in spirit and obviously also actually poor without complaint. "Blessed are the poor in spirit theirs is the kingdom of God." Mt 5:3. How is it possible for us to be poor in spirit? I think it is the work of God in us when we walk in the faith that God has loved us, is loving us, and will always love us. It is good to remind ourselves of this reality. ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. ‘ This gratuitous giving is what we are celebrating on Christmas. And every day really.
When we sit in silence and recognize that God is present, our constant companion, and then simply say a prayer word or phrase over and over, we are trusting all to God. We come to God without an agenda. We come without telling God what we need or what to do. We just trust all to God. This is a time to let God work in our hearts as God wills. With Mary, we say "behold the servant of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word."
Our part is to take the time to pray. This is the watering of our faith. And to remember that it is God who gives the increase. God who does the transforming, in secret, and in great love. Freely.
Let us meditate.