The scriptures tell us that there is a time and season for everything, for each particular event. There is a time of preparing for Christmas, and that is Advent, and then there is a time for Christmas itself. There is no doubt in my mind that the more serious we are about our personal Advent journey, the greater the joy we shall reap during our Christmas celebration.
It is a good practice to make concrete plans on how best to keep our Advent observance. Often, if no plans are made in advance, much of Advent goes unnoticed and wasted. Since Advent is basically a quiet time of waiting for the arrival of the Light at Christmas, it is good to start by trying to become more internally quiet during this rather brief season.
Above
all, we must make the most of these moments of stillness by remaining calm,
silent, and spending quality time with the Lord. The words from one of the
psalms counsel us: Be still, and know
that I am God. Monks always strive to preserve a more quiet
recollected spirit during these lovely Advent days and thus enjoy the Lord’s
intimate company.
There
is no reason why others, in a monastery or elsewhere, could not do the same
wherever they are. It is a question of resolving to do so and making the
effort. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. Come, Holy Spirit.
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