Advent Day 11: Ready And Waiting

Link to free Advent: Love’s Lure Light PDF by Dwell App: ⁣ https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣ ⁣ 𝗣𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝟮𝟳 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶 𝟮:𝟭𝟬-𝟯:𝟭 𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭:𝟱-𝟭𝟳⁣ ⁣ 𝘐𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭. ⁣ Rule of St. Benedict⁣ ⁣ ⁣ 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.⁣ ⁣ 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.⁣ ⁣ 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).⁣ ⁣ 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.⁣ ⁣ 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.”⁣ ⁣ ⁣