The best way to prepare for the coming of the Lord is to model His own preparation before His coming.
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, she gave birth to her first child, a son. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7)
We so often labor under the wrong impression that we need to do big things to make ourselves ready for the Lord’s arrival, but truthfully, all we need to do is to make ourselves like a helpless little child.
Think of it, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Ruler of the Universe chose to enter our world as the tiniest and most vulnerable of all creatures, a mere baby. Jesus willingly placed Himself into the care of two of His own creatures, Joseph and Mary. He made Himself humble, vulnerable and dependent in order that we might later understand the way He would like to see us prepare for His coming.
So, what about us, are we prepared to become meek, humble, dependent… even vulnerable? Are we willing to admit that so much of what has come to represent preparation for this Season simply misses the mark? So many individuals are caught up in preparation by actively pursuing the perfect packages and presents, they keep themselves busy toiling and ticking off tasks and tackling all the troubling burdens to make themselves ready for the big day.
Perhaps we could all just stop, take a breath, not worry so much about all the external preparations, and maybe we could focus for a brief shining moment on the preparation of our heart. n this time of preparation, we must become like little children, and we must allow ourselves to remain open to what the Lord wants to offer to us. It may surprise many that His coming into our hearts at Christmas will not be with fanfare, lights and noise. Instead, it will be in the cool, still silence of the night, and it will make no more noise than the quiet cooing sound of a newborn baby.
Oh, but what an echo it will cause throughout all eternity, in our own lives and deep within our own hearts, if we would only allow it to.
That allowance is made by our becoming small, interiorly silent, humble, dependent, and yes, that word that seems so foreign to our modern culture - vulnerable. Be willing to become vulnerable in this last week of preparation before the coming of the Lord. Let Him find you expectant, waiting and completely relying on whatever it is He wishes to gift you with in this Season. Seek Him within, in Silence…
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven
No ear may hear His coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him still
The dear Christ enters in
God Bless
Copyright © 2024, Deacon Mark Danis
Image credit:"Nativity," Fra Angelico, Public domain, via WikiArt