Drawing from Psalm 143:10—“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Your Spirit is good; lead me in the land of uprightness”—this meditation reflects on Advent as the Church’s quiet, persistent prayer: Come, Lord Jesus. Not only into the world, but into our choices, fears, directions, and future.

Rev. Fr. Dr. Timothy (Tenny) Thomas reminds us that Christ does not enter our lives with force or noise. He comes as He did in Bethlehem—humbly, gently, waiting to be welcomed. Advent trains the heart to release control and to place the reins of life into God’s hands. As the Fathers teach, Christ truly reigns in us when we yield our will to His.

This reflection invites us to see that God’s greatest works begin in surrender: a virgin’s yes, a carpenter’s obedience, a child laid in a manger instead of a throne. If we desire Christ to be born in us, we must offer more than admiration—we must offer direction. Choose one area where resistance remains, and pray with trust: Lord Jesus, take the reins. For the Child of Bethlehem leads more gently and wisely than we ever could ourselves.