“Let the Lord enter…He is the King of Glory!” (Psalm 24). Advent means the coming of something or someone great--preparing our hearts for this coming--making room. In order to allow the Lord to enter, we must make room for Him, create some space for Him…
Borrowing words and reflections from author Caryll Houselander’s book The Reed of God, I’d like to share these three [Advent] images of hers: the nest, the reed and the chalice. When each of these created things is open and receptive, it is doing exactly the thing for which it has been made. The bird prepares a solid, safe, warm and cozy nest to receive the new life of little birds. The reed opens itself to be filled with wind and only then does beautiful music come of it. The cup is open to receive the warmth and cheer of wine, and the chalice is open to receive the Precious Blood of Jesus, our Salvation.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I know at times my “nest” feels overcrowded and untidy, filled with junk and clutter. My “reed” feels waterlogged and clogged with mud. And maybe other [worldly] things sneak in and become more important than fixing our focus on Jesus, the Sacraments, our spiritual life, thus presenting a threat to the precious Treasure in my chalice. Now what?
Like Mary and Joseph, let us submit in humility to the timing and mercy of God. God knew we could never live this life alone nor figure it all out on our own. In His Divine Mercy, God sent His Son, born of a woman. In Mary’s “Yes!” to the Father, her delicate petite womb received Jesus. The beautiful hollow space within her physically received Him. Her heart expanded in love with Him, with her Father and with all of humanity. God was becoming Man! Emmanuel--God with us!
Let us look to Mary and Joseph, who in their poverty, had so much room to welcome and receive Jesus! And Jesus now with us will take care of us. God-with-us will help us to prepare our nests to “let the Lord enter!” His love and His Precious Blood with help clean out my muddy reed and fill it with His breath and spirit for song. Jesus will refill my chalice when my life feels like it has “no wine” (John 2:3). Yet we must be patient. It is all in His timing…it is all in His love…it is an Advent…
