It’s always nice to be at the beginning of something, especially a season like Advent. We have many days to get ourselves together for the big Event at we all know will come at the end of this time of preparation. I thought this reflection from Catherine Doherty, taken from Grace in Every Season, has some great insights as to what these days are all about,
I want to discuss with you this wondrous season of Advent, the days of expectation, of awaiting the desired One. I ask myself, do we really desire the Lord? To desire something is to be constantly absorbed in that desire. This Advent we should go deeply into our hearts, minds, and souls. Let us clean house, and make a loving manger for the Christ Child into which he can be born in all his splendor.
One thing that can prevent this is looking and the world from the narrow cell of self. I suggest that for this Advent we remove from our vocabularies, from our conversations, the sentences, “I feel,” “I want,” and “I would like.” Let us replace them with: “What does God want of me?”
Let us bury the word “I.” Take a big shovel, make a big hole, stick the word “I” in there, and put a cross on top. Because the word “I” is the greatest enemy of he, she, and we. Remember that; it’s very important… “Oh, I need this… Oh, I need that.” No.
If this change of attitude takes place, our life would really take a giant leap towards peace and love, and hence toward happiness and joy. So do this for Advent, and do little things with great love for Christ. Then our minds, hearts, and souls will become a lovely manger in which the Lord can be born and grow to his full stature within us. When he does, we shall know happiness supreme.
