The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11:28

Advent is all about preparing for the coming of Christ into your heart and into your home at Christmas.

It is like waiting for your best friend, your child or your lover to arrive. Your house is ready and the meal prepared but the friends have still not arrived. You begin to pace and feel restless. You don’t know what to do. You try calling them but there is no one at home. An hour goes by and you feel dreadful. Then, suddenly the bell rings and there they are. Relief and joy fill your heart. In the moment of meeting, you forget all the anxiety you have been through. The joy of the moment dispels the anxiety and fears of the past. You are refreshed again.

This is what it is like when we open ourselves to Christ. The joy of His presence fills us with comfort and peace. There is a beautiful painting by one of the Masters depicting Jesus outside a door knocking, lantern in hand. There is no keyhole or handle on the door, but Jesus keeps on knocking. The message is clear: the door can only be opened from the inside, and you and I hold the key. Let him in.

Today’s scripture addresses the need for the Lord to enter into our lives.

God works differently in the life of each person. This difference may bring with it some of the most painful challenges in our lives. When a wife or husband discovers God in new and delightful ways, he or she may have to wait years for the other partner to catch up with the discovery. These years of waiting can be filled with suffering, misunderstanding and pain. Only a profound love of God and of his or her mate makes it possible to go on without badgering or taking it out on the other.

Parents often face the same problem when they find God in their lives. They are frustrated by their own children’s inability to understand, to listen up, to taste the goodness of the Lord. A parish priest often experiences the same frustration with his own parishioners. Sometimes he must wait for ten or twenty years or even longer before they catch on; before they finally see the light. Believe me I have had hands on experience of this. Being patient, not taking yourself too seriously, and letting God do His work in His own good time is a lesson we all must learn. But, waiting patiently and gently for God to come into the lives of those we love is a source of great joy.

Have you noticed how different were the personalities of the apostles? These men of faith were very different. But, their personalities did not prevent them from letting the Lord work through them. Our personalities do not make us saints. What makes us holy is learning to live with the personality God gave us and letting Christ into our lives.

As you prepare for the coming of Christ this Christmas, why not pass His joy around? You will find this joy by contemplating His word and acting on it. Why not open your heart to His presence in the little things: a helping hand to someone in need, a smile to the person next door, a word of encouragement or a kind word to someone who is struggling to get by in life. And, don’t forget to have fun with with your friends and loved ones. The Lord wants us to share in His joy, which is why He says:

“Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you.”

Fr. Hugh Duffy