And Hay Became Holy
The most mundane times can be graced moments. The simplest of things can be avenues by which we experience God. And so it is that hay–such a simple barnyard staple–became holy, when the Babe of Bethlehem rested His sweet head upon it.
God Incarnate walked among us, turned water to wine, made mud into a healing balm. He came to encounter us in the everyday moments; and He still does while we wait for His second coming.
“As a rule {when I run}, I keep distance between myself and others on the sidewalk . . . through my rain-splattered glasses, I noticed that {a man ahead} was not moving at all. Hunched and dressed in baggy flannel, it seemed this older man needed help in some way.
I broke my rule. . .”
-part of my essay in “And Hay Became Holy”, 2021 Advent devotional from Blessed Is She
Spoiler: I didn’t run into trouble when I broke my rule. After I slowed my pace, I walked up to an encounter with the hidden Jesus disguised as someone in need.
This Advent, I invite you to join me and the Blessed Is She writers, to see the manger scene anew, with wonder and hope. See it for the humble, ordinary place it is. See the rather ordinary and messy visitors (shepherds, am I right?!), and those who sought a wonder they couldn’t explain but had to see. See the scene so simple and ordinary, made new and holy by the miraculous birth.
If you’ve noticed here on my blog and in my Instagram stories, I live for the ordinary. I love the ways God reveals Himself in the smallest of ways, and delighting in the most secret whispers of love and hope He places on my heart. I love the stories of God working in people’s ordinary lives.
And that’s what this Advent devotional, “And Hay Became Holy” is about. Making space to wait for and encounter the Lord in the ordinary and unexpected ways.
Father Mark-Mary from the CFRs wrote an intro, setting the scene of the manger with the story of Saint Francis and the first creche. It’s where our traditional nativity scenes originated, and he shared part of the story I’ve never heard: one of miracles associated with the hay. Hay became holy.
Each week in the Advent book focuses on a different group of Nativity scene characters, leading up the Holy Family. There are selections from Scripture, essays from five contributing authors, pages to journal, art reproductions to appreciate with visio divina (similar to lectio divina), and recipes. It’s completely unique from past years and, I think, a lovely way to enter into the mystery of Christ’s Incarnation. This book can become a spiritual scrapbook of sorts, chronicling our individual encounter with the wonder and mystery of the Incarnation.
This year’s options from Blessed Is She are:
- And Hay Became Holy, the devotional These will ship right away!
- Digital version
- And Hay Became Holy bundle with a mug and rosary bracelet I am definitely getting this! I love cute mugs! (these will ship in a few weeks)
- And Hay Became Holy kids’ journal These are so sweet, and many (if not all) of the questions inside were thought of by some of the writing team’s children (including my son!).
- FREE kids’ page
- Adult + Kids bundle
- Advent + Christmas bundle
- see all of Advent
This project has been a joy and an honor to be a part of. Thank you to all of you who have supported me all these years, writing on my blog and for Blessed Is She. May this season be richly blessed by His presence for you.
