It can be imagined that the Lord loves new things. “Behold, I make all things new” are words from the book of Revelation that speak to us of His eternal, life-giving presence. (Revelation 21:5)
The Son must take great delight in all that the Father makes new, which we see in every day, in every child and in every new heart that turns to the Lord.
In Advent, our hearts, shaped by the liturgy, take on a sense of anticipation and hope in waiting for the Lord. While we enter into a kind of expectation for the Lord’s coming, we also have a raised awareness that more is expected of us. We are called to be made ready, to be made newer, in our heart and interior life, before we see the newborn King.
Matthew’s account of the wise men’s reaction after “they saw the child with Mary his mother,” says “they fell down and worshipped him … opening their treasures” before Jesus. (Matthew 2:11) Like the first worshippers of Jesus, we are called to open our treasures and lay them at the feet of Emmanuel, in the company of Mary.
As disciples of Christ, we know that following Jesus involves surrender. Each of us receives the Gospel invitation to leave all things, which includes setting aside anything that separates us from God, including disordered attachments to the things and ways of this world.
We are called to move from habits in the shadows to an integrated life immersed in the light of God’s truth and freedom. As we reflect on what we can bring more fully to the Lord, perhaps we can also give our gifts and talents?
Advent is a good time to reflect in prayer on our treasures. What would Jesus most love to receive from us as a gift? What treasures haven’t we opened before him?
Perhaps we need the grace to give the treasure of our trust, our vocation or our future to the Lord?
Our needs, obstacles to grace and the challenges of daily life can become a gift that we give to the Lord. We can surrender them to His care and mercy. We can ask Him to help us by giving us His grace and removing everything that keeps us from handing over the treasure of our lives to Him.
Is there something distracting us or holding us back from union with God and His Church? Maybe there is a friendship that has not yet welcomed Christ within it? Perhaps there is a sorrow or desire in our heart that needs the deep consolation of Christ, supported by the gift of true friends? Our turning to Jesus is itself a treasure to Him, especially when we turn with trust to ask Him for what we need.
He wants to bring us consolation and accompany us as we face difficulties and carry crosses. This is the desire of His Sacred Heart that becomes visible to us at Christmas.
As Catholics, the mystery of the Incarnation, celebrated at Christmas, should have a year-round impact on our lives and worldview. The Lord comes to us, to make us a new creation and to restore us as children of the Father. Through God’s grace, we become newly fashioned treasures and beautiful gifts.
This is one reason the Angelus prayer is an important means of conveying a spiritual reality to internalize in our daily life. Traditionally recited in the morning, at noon and in the evening, the Angelus reminds us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us so we would personally encounter the redeeming love of Jesus.
Just as the Angelus reminds us of our call to imitate Mary’s readiness to welcome the Lord, the Advent season is an encouragement to prepare the way for the Lord and make our paths straight.
When we give our consent to the Lord and welcome His presence interiorly, we are transformed. This is especially true when we come before His Eucharistic presence and worship Him. It is also true when we go to Him in confession, laying before Him all that needs healing and forgiveness.
We rejoice because Jesus is ready to receive us as treasures, along with any offerings we place at His feet.
This Advent, let us join the wisemen in journeying to the Infant King, ready to offer Him the gift of ourselves and treasuring Him in our hearts.
Sister John Paul Maher, OP, is principal of Worthington St. Michael School and a member of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.
