Pray The Word

Link to PDF Love’s Pure Light⁣

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https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣

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Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 2 Samuel 6:12-19 Hebrews 1:5-14⁣

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𝘜𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘸𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯.⁣

–St. Justin Martyr⁣

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In many ways, the Advent and Christmas seasons can be understood through the story of two births, Eve, who gave birth to death and sin, and Mary, who gave birth to life and hope. In both stories, we encounter a virgin woman living in the favor of God, each presented with a situation that demanded of them a response. For one, a temptation to seize forcefully that which can only be given as a gift. For the other, an announcement received with great joy and trust in the faithfulness of God. As such, while Eve is the mother of humanity that ushered sin into the world, Mary, through her “yes” to God, becomes the mother of our Lord, and the true mother of us all.⁣

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The journey from Eve to Mary, understood through this lens, is one that every Christian must take. Through her response of faith, Mary models for us the way we also must respond as God draws near. In this way, Mary is one of the pivotal players of the Advent season, embodying the hopes of Israel as she receives and proclaims the faithfulness of God.⁣

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Today we read Psalm 89, which is itself an inspiration for the Song of Mary found in Luke 1. “I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations” (Ps. 89:1). Every follower of Jesus is invited to receive the word of God spoken to them, rejoice in his faithfulness, and proclaim his goodness to future generations. Though we, like Eve, alienate ourselves from our source of life, we all the more powerfully, with Mary, magnify the Lord and rejoice in God our Savior.⁣

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𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.⁣

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𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣

Every single person has a God given talent that can be used to uniquely support and encourage others. What do you know how to do that can bless someone else today? Though caring for the poor is a central act of Christian charity, we also extend the mercy of God to others in countless ways, such as tutoring children, fixing a leaky pipe, or designing a website.

Link to PDF Love’s Pure Light⁣

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https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣

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Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26 2 Samuel 6:1-11 Hebrews 1:1-4⁣

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𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 — 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦, 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵.⁣

–C.S. Lewis⁣

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In a culture consumed with image and appearance, beauty is almost always thought of as something to see, rather than to encounter. Yet true beauty never leaves us unaffected, for it is active and engaging, taking hold of our deepest desires and longings. We are changed and profoundly affected simply by the presence of beauty, for all beauty ultimately points beyond itself and invites us to encounter God as its true source.⁣

Beauty, then, evokes a response, for it is impossible to remain passive in the presence of beauty. And once we have tasted it, we will pursue it with all that we have, for within it, we find our longings not only awakened, but fulfilled. As the psalmist says, “One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD” (Ps. 27:4).⁣

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In Jesus, the beauty of God is on full display. His mercy and kindness is neither distant nor abstract, but can be known, touched, and encountered. No longer do we hear and see from a distance as our ancestors did, but instead God speaks to us through his Son who is “the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being” (Heb. 1:1-3a). In Jesus, we encounter the “one thing” the psalmist sought after: the beauty of God. May we dwell with Christ as he daily transforms us by the beauty of his love.⁣

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𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.⁣

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𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣

While financial gifts are a wonderful way to support people in need, they can never replace the gift of being face to face with others. Today, give the gift of your time and be physically present to someone in need, hearing their story and reminding them that they are dearly known and loved by God.

Link to PDF Love’s Pure Light⁣

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https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣

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Psalm 125 Malachi 3:16-4:6 Mark 9:9-13⁣

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𝘈 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘭𝘶𝘬𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘻𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵.⁣

–St. John Cassian⁣

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When was the last time you were truly overcome by joy? Perhaps it was upon seeing a dearly loved friend or family member after months apart. Or, you received news of a long-desired promotion or acceptance into the school of your dreams. For others, it was when a prolonged illness found surprising relief and lasting healing. Whatever it may be, this type of joy, one that overpowers and comes upon us with great force, can never be contrived or conjured up. It surprises, overwhelms, and shines light into even the darkest moments of life.⁣

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At Christmas, we are meant to be overcome by this kind of joy. The birth of Christ is nothing less than the very life of the world, hope and peace that meets us in our weak and weary state. As Malachi 4:2 reminds us today, “the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.”⁣

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The joy of the Lord is stronger than your greatest fears. It can handle your greatest doubts. It is saving medicine that cures even the most cynical of souls. And though it comes upon us as a gift, it is a gift that must be accepted. We must open our hearts and lives to receive the saving medicine offered to our sin-sick souls. Let us not neglect the healing on offer!⁣

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𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.⁣

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𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣

You cannot give to others what you have not first received yourself. Prayerfully reflect today on the goodness of God in your life and ask him for the gift of joy in his presence, and the strength to share that gift with others.

Link to the devotional Love’s Pure Light PDF here: ⁣

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https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣

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Psalm 125 2 Kings 2:9-22 Acts 3:17-4:4⁣

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𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.⁣

–St. Athanasius⁣

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Christians often talk about living “on mission” or “transforming society” for Christ. And as good and beautiful as these visions undoubtedly are, we must never forget that outer transformation can never move faster than inward renewal. We cannot share with the world something we ourselves have not received and encountered in the depths of our soul.⁣

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Acts 3 holds forth a vision of refreshment in and through the presence of God, yet it directly ties this refreshment to our own turning away from sin and towards our Lord in humility. This is the first and primary call of Christ given to every disciple, and though it is clear and easy enough to understand, it is far more difficult to receive and obey. Instead, we often prefer to direct the spiritual lives of others rather than tend to our own life with God!⁣

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Tempting as this may be, this is not the missional call of God. We are not called to judge others, but to give our lives away in service as we seek their good (Mt. 7:1). A life free from the power of sin is never for our own benefit alone, neither is it meant to isolate us from those in need. Instead, our hearts are set free and are moved by a compassionate longing to enter into their weakness as fellow sinners in need of grace. As we do, the life of God is multiplied in others, and we together enter into the joy of our Lord.⁣

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𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.⁣

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𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣

Charity requires an attentive preparation. We must be prepared and ready to give, anticipating the needs of others before they are even known to us. Today, purchase a few small gift cards from a local gas station or restaurant and place them in your car, ready to give one away to the next homeless person you encounter.

Link to the devotional Love’s Pure Light PDF here: ⁣

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https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣

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Psalm 125 1 Kings 18:1-18 Ephesians 6:10-17⁣

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𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘶𝘴. John Wesley⁣

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John Wesley devoted his entire life to God, preaching countless sermons, penning well-loved hymns of praise, and inviting everyone around him to live a life of holy devotion to Christ. Yet for all that can be said about his life and ministry, his final words, spoken with great effort as lay upon his deathbed, may be the most important he ever uttered: “Best of all, God is with us.”⁣

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There are no easy answers to the suffering we see in our world or why God allows such evil to persist. Though we remain a joyful people of hope, we know all is not as it should be. Just as we reflect upon the first Advent of Christ, in this season we also long for his return, his second Advent, praying with Christians through the ages, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20)! The second Advent reminds us that things will not always be as they are today, and that is very good news. All will one day be made right. Night will give way to day, darkness will yield to the light of Christ. As the Psalmist says, “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Ps. 30:5).⁣

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Joy is found in the presence of God, not in the absence of pain. We are not promised a life free of suffering or loss, but are assured that God is with us in these places of great need. As Psalm 125:2 reminds us today, we are surrounded and comforted by a God who is with us and will never leave us. “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore.”⁣

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𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.⁣

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𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣

It is easy to be overcome by the weight of our own pain and suffering. And without discounting the reality of our own need for healing, if we are defeated by our own concerns, it becomes increasingly difficult to give our lives away for the sake of others. As a step in the right direction, take time today to call at least one friend and ask how they are doing and how you can pray for them this week.

Link to Love’s Pure Light Advent Devotional here: ⁣

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https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣

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Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28⁣

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𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘐𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥.⁣

–Thomas Merton⁣

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This time of year, gift giving is top of mind. Likely, you have been busily working through a list, making sure everyone is accounted for and that no one slips through the cracks. Similarly, we often speak of Jesus as the “gift of Christmas.” Rightly understood, we should celebrate this great truth. However, there is a danger before us if we too quickly think of him as a modern Christmas gift, wrapped in the manger and placed gently beneath the tree.⁣

In our culture, Christmas gifts are, by design, not essential to our well-being or daily life. In truth, you do not need a new gaming console, perfume, or an electric toothbrush, yet these are precisely the types of gifts we give and receive in this season. It is highly unlikely that you will ever wake up on Christmas morning to find a prepaid utility bill wrapped and waiting for you! No, Christmas gifts are meant to do the opposite: they distract from the otherwise difficult and often painful realities of “normal life.” As such, though they may bring momentary joy or delight, rarely do they bring with them lasting joy or genuine transformation of being.⁣

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The gift of God in Jesus is not a momentary fix but is a lasting cure. He sees us as we truly are and offers himself as a gift of love to heal our greatest need. Love neither pacifies nor distracts, but always renews and restores. Isaiah reminds us of this, pointing to a day of unspeakable joy in which the broken-hearted are restored, mourners consoled, and captives set free (Is. 61:1-3). This is undoubtedly the greatest Christmas gift that could ever be given.⁣

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𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.⁣

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𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣

As we take time this week to reflect upon the joy of Advent, we must remember that this joy is not simply for our own good but is a shared joy, one that we receive and extend to others. In this vein, this week we will enter into the historic practice of alms-giving, which in its most basic form is showing mercy to others in need. As we prepare for this practice, take time today to reflect upon your relationships and spheres of influence, identifying possible ways in which you can extend the mercy, and joy, of God this week.⁣

Link to Love’s Pure Light Advent Devotional here: ⁣

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https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣

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Psalm 126 Habakkuk 3:13-19 Matthew 21:28-32⁣

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𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘺𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦.⁣

–St. Thérèse of Lisieux⁣

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There stands before us today, and every day, an invitation into faithful obedience. This entry into the way of Jesus is for all who read these words, regardless of where you were yesterday, or where you may find yourself tomorrow. Though we may have failed countless times before, the gospel call to repentance can still be heard, received, and obeyed.⁣

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In many ways, this is the gift of the Christian year. Advent is an annual reminder and encouragement to renew our commitment to hear and obey the commands of Christ. Though our Lord only once entered this world bodily, our need for him to be born anew within us is unending. Like a misaligned car that pulls to the left or right, we as humans face a lifelong temptation to deviate from the path that lies before us. We are, as an old hymn says, “prone to wander.”⁣

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Jesus reminds us in Matthew 21 that faithfulness is found, not simply in the words we speak, but in and through the lives we live. The will of the father is done by the son who obeys, even though he first resisted the command given to him. It is not how you begin that defines you, but ultimately, how you end. As we read yesterday, we must forget what lies behind and instead strain forward to what lies ahead (Phil 3:13). To forget the past is not to pretend it didn’t happen but is to remove its power over your life. In Christ, your past is redeemed and transformed into a glorious future as you faithfully follow him in the present.⁣

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𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.⁣

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𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣

Fasting is meant to cultivate a hunger for God by consuming less in other areas of life. In order to do this, we must fast from excess, learning to live with less and allow our hunger to move us into spaces of greater fidelity towards Christ. To do this today, as you prepare food to eat, consume half of the food you would typically eat.

Link to Dwell App devotional Love’s Pure Light here: https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm

Link to Love’s Pure Light devotional from Dwell App here:⁣

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https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣

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𝘗𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝟷𝟸𝟼 𝘏𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘬𝘬𝘶𝘬 𝟸:𝟷-𝟻 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝟹:𝟽-𝟷𝟷⁣

𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺; 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺.⁣

–St. John Climacus⁣

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In yesterday’s reflection we spoke of the necessity of attentiveness, faithfully waiting for our Lord to arrive. To extend this image further, what do we do when our guest seems delayed? Do we eat without him? Do we anxiously call or repeatedly send messages asking for an update? Or perhaps we cancel the meal entirely and head to bed. Rarely do we do the one thing we are meant to do: keep on looking!⁣

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The inability to patiently wait and trust the Lord’s timing has plagued his people from the very beginning. What did the Israelites do when Moses was delayed on Mount Sinai? They took matters into their own hands and made a golden calf to worship as a god (Ex. 32). What do we do when our expectations and God’s timing seem out of sync? So often, we quickly assume God to be either uninvolved or uninterested in the cares and concerns of life, and therefore believe we must become masters of our own destiny.⁣

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Extended seasons of waiting allow impatience, weariness, and even bitter resentment to take root in our hearts and lives. It is a daily struggle to keep watch amid such great pain and sorrow, and often we fail. Yet Advent is not a time to dwell upon our failures but to rejoice in the goodness and faithfulness of God. Hard as it may be, we press on courageously, looking for the day when God will finally set the world right. As he promises through the prophet Habakkuk, “(If that final day) seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay” (Hab. 2:3).⁣

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𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.⁣

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𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣

We struggle with unscheduled time, choosing to pursue constant distraction and stimulation rather than waiting attentively in the moment. In light of this, fast today from inattentiveness by using your phone only for essential tasks. Resist the urge to pull it out and scroll whenever there is a gap in your day or lull in the conversation. Reclaim that time and wait attentively for the Lord in prayer.

Link to free Advent: Love’s Lure Light PDF by Dwell App: ⁣

https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣

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𝗣𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝟮𝟳 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶 𝟮:𝟭𝟬-𝟯:𝟭 𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭:𝟱-𝟭𝟳⁣

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𝘐𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭. ⁣

Rule of St. Benedict⁣

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If you’ve ever hosted guests for a meal, you know the routine. For hours prior to their arrival, you diligently prepare the food, meticulously clean your home, and make yourself ready to welcome them when they arrive. If you succeed, all of this will 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳 effortless, as though you just happened to throw it all together at the last minute! The aim is to be ready and 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. With the preparation and hard work behind you, all that is left is to turn your attention fully to the guest of honor.⁣

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In many ways, Advent is the cooking and cleaning that must be done to properly welcome our guest. This is not work for work’s sake, busy just to be busy, or a superficial concern with appearance. No, it is paradoxically the path to true freedom and rest. When proper preparations are made, we can live with a singular focus and devotion, not concerned with the weight of the world or duties of our lives.⁣

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Preparation of heart and mind allows us to attend to Christ at his coming. We lay aside all earthly cares in order to offer him our full attention and devotion. Do not mistakingly conflate busyness with faithfulness, nor idleness with peace of soul. We must learn to be perfectly at rest while remaining fully attentive. Only then, in the words of Luke 1, will we be “a people prepared for the Lord” (Lk. 1:17).⁣

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𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.⁣

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𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣

It is impossible to focus on Christ and judge others at the same time! Today, fast from gossip and resist the urge to speak ill of your brother or sister. Instead, when you feel tempted to give voice to your criticism, pray The Jesus Prayer, remembering your own need for mercy and forgiveness. “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”⁣

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