Prepare Our Hearts
“In the stillness, prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Amen.”
Mark 1:3 (NIV)
Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
In the quiet of Advent, we're called to a sacred task - the preparation of our hearts. This preparation is not about external trappings or perfect performances. It's an internal readying, a clearing of space in the deepest recesses of our being for the arrival of Christ.
Imagine your heart as an ancient cathedral. Over time, it may have accumulated layers of dust, cluttered with the trappings of daily life, windows clouded, obscuring the light. Advent is a time to tenderly and reverently restore this sacred space. We sweep away distractions, polish what has become tarnished, and open the windows to let in fresh air. We're not striving for perfection, but for openness - creating room for the holy to enter.
This heart-preparation happens in stillness. It's in the quiet moments, away from the noise and rush of the world, that we can truly focus on making room for Christ. This stillness is both a choice and a gift - we choose to create space for it, but the peace it brings is a grace beyond our own making. In the stillness, we have the opportunity to reflect deeply. We notice the corners of our hearts we've neglected, the hopes we've let gather dust, the love we've allowed to grow cold. We become aware of the clutter that hinders our relationship with God and others - old grudges, fears, and misplaced priorities. Gently, with compassion for ourselves, we begin to clear these away.
Preparing our hearts isn't about making ourselves worthy of Christ's coming. Rather, it's about acknowledging our deep need for Him, our longing for His presence, and our desire for Him to enter into every aspect of our lives. It's about cultivating a spirit of expectancy and hope, believing that Christ's coming - both His historical coming that we celebrate at Christmas, and His ongoing coming into our lives - changes everything. We're not just getting ready to celebrate a past event, but to encounter the living Christ in our present reality. We're making space for Him to be born anew in our hearts, to transform us from the inside out, to align our wills more closely with His.
This preparation is both intensely personal and communal. While each of us must do the work of preparing our hearts, we're also called to support and encourage one another in this process. We can create spaces of stillness together, share our journeys of preparation, and encourage each other to stay focused on Christ amidst the distractions of the season.
As we come to the end of this prayer, the word "Amen" serves as both a conclusion and an affirmation. It's a way of saying "Yes, let it be so" to all that we've prayed for - the stillness, the quieting of our hearts and minds, the contentment in God's presence, the surrender to His peace, and the preparation for Christ's coming.
Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following question:
Mark 1:3 (NIV)
Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.
In the stillness of your heart, how could you prepare your heart for Christ this Advent?