At the beginning of Mass, we lit the candles of our Advent wreath. Some of us may have our own Advent wreaths and family traditions that go with them. Some of us may not. But all of us have an Advent wreath with the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that has been placed within our souls with the purpose to burn brightly.
Just as we need to be attentive to actual candles, the same is true for the ones in our souls, if not the flames can dim and even go out. And where there is no light, there is darkness.
We are in the third week of Advent, Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means rejoice, so the third candle which is rose in color stands for joy. During this time of year, we can easily slip into feeling overwhelmed, overtired, or overworked; anxious, frazzled, or stressed; sad, lonely, or regretful as well as many other emotions. Each of these can lead to experiences of feeling desolation and our flame of joy can begin to dim.
If we may be feeling any one or all of the above this morning, first we need to realize that in and of themselves, these emotions are not bad. They are actually helpful as long as we identify them, address the needs they are alerting us to, and then discern and decide how best to take care of them.
The first group of being overwhelmed can be the easiest to address if we are aware and willing to step back, take a break a get some rest. Just as a lumber jack needs to stop and sharpen their axe from time to time so as to work more efficiently, taking the time to stop and rest is just as important.
Feeling anxious and stressed as well as sad and lonely, can be a bit trickier to identify, but again when these feelings arise, stopping, breathing and praying about what is going on is a good first step. Talking to someone we trust can help us to get a better perspective.
Often the challenge is that our perception is off. The flame of our candle of joy weakens when we are looking at what we don’t have, what we can’t do, that we don’t measure up, and/or that we don’t think we can accomplish that which is before us. Ultimately, we are believing in lies that isolate us from the truth of who and whose we are.
If you remember, Peter walked on water as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. Once he focused on the wind and the storm, he began to sink. Fortunately, he called out to Jesus and Jesus pulled him back up. When Peter was focused on Jesus and not his fear, he was on target.
This perspective is what Advent is all about. Pope Francis wrote in the opening lines of his encyclical, The Joy of the Gospel, that “THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness.”
When we make a firmer intent to watch and pray for the coming of Jesus in our lives, he will strengthen and transform us such that any doubt or depression will be replaced with hope, any anxiety with peace, any sadness with joy, and any indifference with love.
It is important to remember that when we acknowledge and recognize any doubt, stress, sadness, desolation, or indifference that this is not an invitation to get down on ourselves. This is the first step to countering and turning our gaze back to Jesus. Once we are aware, we can then make steps to identify what we are feeling, examine the source that may be causing it, and then decide that we want to change and ask Jesus for his help to do so. We need his help to do so.
Another practice that has helped me is to take time each day reading and praying with the Mass readings of the day. You can even just read the readings of Sunday starting on Monday in preparation for the following Sunday. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a short sentence or phrase as you read. When one comes to you, stop there, and begin to prayerfully memorize it. Return to it often during the day. Write it down on an index card or sticky note and carry it with you. Create a file in your Notes app on your iPhone and keep these verses there.
This practice helps our focus to stay on Jesus, and when any thoughts of anxiety, doubt, or stress, begin to arise, we can return to our verse. Be patient, like any practice this will take some time and discipline. But as Mary told me, and now I share with you. “Each time you show up, God will happen.”
The readings of Advent are a good place to start. Each of them is leading to the coming of Jesus into the world his first time. When we spend time reading and praying with these accounts each day through the year, our relationship with him grows so that our flames will be stronger no matter what wind of circumstance comes to blow them out.
Here are three simple but powerful phrases from today’s readings that can be helpful to start with.
“The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me” (Isaiah 61:1).
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord (Luke 1:46).
“Rejoice always.” (I Thessalonians 5:16)
Let that first verse sink in. “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me.” Receive that word from God, know that you are a beloved daughter or son as you are right now. Know that he loves you more than you can imagine. Any thought that arises from the contrary is a lie.
I invite you to receive one of these gifts today, rest with one of these verses, or revisit the readings and choose one of your own and see what Jesus may be inviting you to experience. Just as healthy food nourishes our bodies, the words of Scripture nourish our souls. When we meditate upon the word of God and consistently bring a word or phrase to mind often, we are inviting God to dwell with us and to transform us. In the beginning, you may not feel or experience anything, it may be enough just to try to remember a few words to carry with you. If you stay with the practice, you will experience times of consolation and the light from your candle of joy will shine brightly. We can’t force God’s consolation and joy to well up within us, but we can place ourselves in a posture and disposition to receive his grace.
Another powerful way to receive the joy of the Lord and to encounter Jesus is to receive his Body and Blood in the gift of the Eucharist we are about to receive. If there is a particular emotion that has been dimming your flame, bring it to the altar and surrender it to Jesus as you receive him or his blessing. Invite him to begin to transform you with his gentle and loving embrace.
Step by step this Advent, let us raise our candles high and shine the light of Christ in the way we interact with one another. As we receive and grow in his hope, peace, and joy, may we prepare next week to breathe, rest, abide in and share his love. The love of Jesus is the best gift we can receive and give to one another this Christmas.
Photo: Chapel at Bethany Retreat Center, Lutz, FL.
Spiritual Stepping Stones 