Living in His WORD

The season of Advent has begun and we reflect upon the journey of the Jewish nation awaiting the Messiah, the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem and our own journey awaiting the birth of the Christ child in our own hearts.

Advent is or can be a very silent, recollected journey even amidst all the preparations and activities preparing for Christmas. Taking five to ten minutes a day to reflect upon the day’s Mass readings is one idea to enter into that desired solitude. These sacred words, if we open them up to the Holy Spirit, can be incredibly transforming and life-giving. Jesus desires to reveal the Father’s love for us, His plan for each of us. Jesus longs to fill us with His unrelenting peace.

For Him to do this as fully as He desires, we read in today’s Gospel that we need to stay awake. We do not know the hour or day of His arrival. This staying awake is a great image for us. We know it does not mean that we must never physically sleep. But we must be attentive, alert, awake to His movements in our souls as we journey with Him each day.

This is just a simple example but it meant something to me. We Sisters rise early each day to greet the Lord each morning before all the activities of the day begin. Yet today’s Gospel is not about how early we get up but allows each of us to ask how awake am I to greet Him this morning? Am I even awake at all? In the chapel I saw my Sisters quietly bent over Scripture or on their knees in silent meditation. This is the gift of community…of family…that we inspire and assist one another. This morning, my Sisters showed me a living example of what it means to be awake.

May all of us and our loved ones enter this Advent journey with an open and attentive heart and show each other what it means to stay awake.