Advent meditation: The prophet Ezekiel also saw a vision of the age to come like Isaiah. The vision was of a giant temple that filled the whole Earth. This is because the whole world was created to be God’s temple. Ezekiel’s vision also includes an image of the Blessed Virgin like Isaiah’s did. Ezekiel sees a gate which God enters the world through. God tells Ezekiel that no one but the prince, Jesus Christ, may enter by it. The Fathers of the Church understood this as an image of how even after Christ was born, Mary would still remain a perpetual virgin.
Prayer: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. (Memorare)
Scripture: Then he [God] brought me [Ezekiel] back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east; and it was shut. And he said to me, “This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it; for the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered by it; therefore it shall remain shut. Only the prince may sit in it to eat bread before the Lord; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.” (Ezekiel 44:1-3)
