Missing the Point: Racing Down the Royal Advent Highway
against hurry, against doing over being, against the modern myopic focus on producing and getting things. It bridges our deep fear that we won't accomplish much, and our despair when we no longer can. It straightens the winding road of too little prayer, and too much stuff to do.
Advent teaches us to wait. Contemplate. Repent. Savor. It illustrates that everything great in life is the product of slow growth. The greater, higher, and nobler the work, the slower is its growth, and the surer its lasting success.
Advent teaches us to accept slow growth, if it must be slow, and to know the results must come, just as we accept the long, lonely hours of Advent night with absolute assurance that the burden of patience must bring the dawn of salvation. This is hope, and it is the liturgy of the Church to all of us for today, this week, right now. Where has God repeatedly attempted to speak to you about something you consider trivial?
What crooked habit do you cherish that cries out for straightening? What small matter in your life has become a huge obstacle to Christ's coming to you this Christmas? What sin are you laughing off as a quirk of your personality that needs to be bulldozed? Shouldn't the valley of Christmas depression be filled in?
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord" and pray for a new experience of His coming. For the peace, rest and joy of Christmas travels one way - through the solitary Royal Highway of Advent Holiness.
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Sonja Corbitt is a contributing writer for Catholic Online - sonjacorbitt(at)pursuingthesummit.com.
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
Keywords: Advent
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Amen, sister. We should not try to outpace the Holy Spirit. Our world, including my world, needs to learn how to be still, spiritually and literally. Motor vehicles make this a huge modernday challenge. Are we using them to help us to have true freedom, or do we allow them to enslave us even more? True freedom is the freedom in the Spirit, to go where the Spirit leads us. In the end, It is our will that drives the vehichle of our body, of our emotions and passions. We must consider what spirit we are allowing to drive our lives.
Sonja, Sonja, Sonja - this is it . I was going to say, "Why didn't you write this message at the beginning of Advent?" But, I would not have listened to it then. Or even two days ago; but after the day I had yesterday, I am able to hear this. Thank you!
Sonja, your writing is wonderful and I look forward to reading everything you write.
Keep sending these wonderful life lessons for all of us to learn from.
This is exactly the way I feel, slowing down is a virtue which is no more teached in our speedy, over-technical world.
Advent is the time, we turn and watch inside, preparing the essential. Out of this preparation comes for me new strength and a better understanding of other people. It's just the opposite of preparing and decorating a monster feast and trying to be a very professional, perfectionist person.
"Haste implies confusion, lack of order, and impatience of slow growth, doesn't it? It mistakes ambition for inspiration."
Very well said. Thank you for this wonderful article. Very timely during this Advent! Christmas is but a few days away. God bless us, everyone!
Oh Sonja, you had me laughing so hard! And thank you for the reminder to slow down. Advent will soon be over so there's not a moment to waste in preparing. God bless you, Miss Lead Foot! :)