Blessings to you all on this 4th Sunday of Advent! May the hustle & bustle of your final preparations be held in the reins of a peaceful, recollected soul.

Be comforted, be comforted, O my people: thy Savior shall come quickly. Why hath grief devoured thee? Why hath sorrow disfigured thee? I will save thee: fear not: for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Redeemer.

(Last verse of the Rorate Coeli: an Advent chant)

The King of kings & Lord of lords was not born in the grandeur of a palace. Nay, not in the basic comforts of His parent’s little home in Nazareth. Not even amidst the amenities of an inn. But under the measly shelter of a roughhewn stable cave. The dichotomy is unequivocally unmatched. This cave was not cluttered with endless comforts and distractions of a fine life. It did not boast of splendor and ease.

It was simple. It was humble. It was…open.

What a comfort this should be to our sin stained, weary souls! “He whom the heavens cannot contain” (St. Augustine) desired to greet us as a wee babe from an unsuspecting manger. The King of kings arrived without pomp and prestige. Humanity’s brokenness and miseries were waiting; His redemptive work was already in full swing. He came as the smallest of us to save us from ourselves. But we need to be willing and ready. My hope is that we can use these last few days of Advent to transform our complicated, proud hearts into the dwelling of His choice: one that is simple, humble and open; lovingly disposed to welcome in the entirety of Heaven on Christmas.

This past week brought a touch of spring weather and some rain, washing our winter wonderland into a snow, grass and mud patchwork quilt; truly leaving us dreaming of a bit whiter Christmas. While much has been done, there is still much to do. Christmas baking is underway; gift wrapping is not. The elderberry syrup is jarred and adorned for gifting while the gingerbread & orange garland is still just a thought. Cards have been addressed and mailed yet the porch lights have yet to be strung. The tree is in its proper place, branches a-glow and biding its time for ornaments on Christmas Eve. Indeed, all is becoming merrier and brighter.