By Sr. Molly Fernandes sfn –
Prepare our hearts to receive Jesus is the common phrase used during this season of Advent. So let’s pull ourselves together for a soul searching, as we get closer to celebrate Christmas.
Prophet Isaiah in 40: 4, invites us to ‘prepare’ the way of the Lord saying every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. He urges us to straighten out our crooked ways, tear down our mountains of pride, anger, selfishness, rebellion, laziness, greed, and fill in the valleys of our bad habits, misdeeds, self-righteousness with care, acceptance, respect, humility, joy, good deeds. It is a time to turn away from sin and receive forgiveness through sacrament of reconciliation. He advises us to obey the Lord’s instruction, walk in the ways of peace, follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and be just in thought, word and deed. Yes, to be filled with hope, rejoice in glad tidings and welcome the Messiah.
Prophet Isaiah is a must read Prophet whose teachings sometimes were accepted but more often ignored to follow own priorities. God’s grace is always available, but we have our own free will. We have the will to ignore it or receive it.
The word “prepare” means to arrange, to organize, to put in order or to fix. It conveys the idea of conscious, planned effort over a period of time. One of the keys to preparing our hearts is to fix our hearts on what we will do and will not do.
For example: The woman suffering for 12 years with the haemorrhages planned to say: if I only touch his cloak, I will be made well and she received the healing. Luke 8, 43-48. Zaccheus wanted or planned to see Jesus and he did it to the extent of climbing the sycamore tree…Lk: 19: 3-4
Also David the King of Israel, had already planned what he would do when he had illicit relationship with Bathsheba, so there were no options left when the temptation came, 2 Sam. 11. Judas Iscariot had previously pre-planned to sell Jesus and he consciously executed it. The brothers of Joseph or sons of Jacob in the Old Testament had wilfully fixed the plan to do away with him and got rid of him by implementing it, Gen 37: 18-36.
The Gospel of St. Luke speaks about how we need to ‘prepare’ to receive Jesus in our hearts through Gospel of Luke 3: 10-14, and the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” Here we have different category of peoples, the crowd, the tax collectors and the soldiers – in everything they saw only their benefit and that of their family and friends. In which category do I fall? Do I tend to behave like any of these in a given situation!
There are many instances in the Bible where Jesus spoke directly to the Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees yet, they were not willing to let go their EGO, their hidden agendas and things done to benefit themselves rather than the people.
To ‘prepare’ our heart is like preparing the soil for ploughing. That is we get rid of the bushes, take out the grass or weeds, remove all dirt even the tiny stones, level it, wet the ground or wait for the rain to fall on it for easy ploughing.
Having reflected on the prophecy candle, the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah who foretold the birth of Christ, the second candle which reminded of Mary and Joseph’s journey into Bethlehem, while the third candle of the Joy that the world experienced at the birth of Jesus, as we light the fourth candle, the ‘angel’s candle’ let us reminiscence the angel’s message: ‘peace on earth and good will toward men” and try to be agents of peace to all.
As Msgr. Schmitz said, “So if in Christmas what we focus on is the Incarnation and God’s presence with us, I have to prepare my ‘heart’ for that.” Thus we will be able to rejoice by my right choice-what I will do- to experience peace and share the Joy of Salvation to all.