Firming up during Advent
As I prepared for today’s readings, the word that catches my attention from the first two readings is FIRM.
Isaiah 35:
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those who are frightened:
Be strong! fear not!
James 5:
Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
As I approached the Gospel, I wondered where the connection may lie:
Matthew 11:
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.
What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
To see a prophet?
Yes! I tell you - and more than a prophet - the one about whom it is written: See I am sending my messenger ahead fo you; he will prepare the way before you.
When I think of the work required to prepare the way, I’m reminded of the verse in Isaiah where every mountain will be made low and every valley raised up. This speaks to me of creating a firm, steady path that can be more easily and quickly traversed than through a mountain or valley. The work is removing obstacles and barriers.
Have you ever needed to make firm knees that are weak?
It requires daily, repetitious, consistent habit.
Last fall, my knee left me on the dance floor. I went right; it stayed left. I couldn’t walk on it for a couple of weeks, and when I began I braced it with support, and took steps to relieve the pain it caused. At Christmastime, I started doing light daily exercises that strengthen knees and ankles and promote alignment. …and suddenly, no more knee pain. No more tender walking.
But it wasn’t sudden! It was through consistent, persistent, small actions that yielded a harvest.
Now that we know how to strengthen our feeble knees; what about our hearts - which are far more fickle? When I think of daily, consistent habits we can use to strengthen our hearts - the most obvious is prayer. Right? Let’s see what James has to say:
James instructs us to be patient until the coming of the Lord. His followers were waiting for Jesus to return and were getting upset that others weren’t waiting like them AND that He wasn’t back yet. What is the daily, consistent action to strengthen our weak heart?
DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.
I’ll show myself out. …or rather, straight to the Confessional.
This is my number one sin. You know how I know I’m tired? And I don’t just mean physically - I mean TIRED. of. all. the. things. I complain. In my heart. With my words. To God. To my friends.
This is where I need to prepare my heart to receive Jesus most, right now. My temptation is to look at my actions and get made when others aren’t where I am (which by the way, was the same thing James’ audience was doing, too). This is disordered thinking because my focus is on 2 wrong things: ME and others - instead of focusing on the promises of God and the lives of the prophets and saints.
After James tells us not to complain about each other; he tells us to take an example of hardship and patience the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (and if you keep reading the rest of the chapter, which I highly recommend - he further recommends keeping your speech simple (yes be yes; no be no); confession of your sins; asking others to pray for you when you’re sick; rejoice when things are going well, and petition in times of need. He provides examples of Job and Elijah, and from our Gospel today - we can add John the Baptist.
Were they swayed by the wind?
Did they live in palaces with fine robes? Did they dine on sumptuous dishes?
No. They hoped for HEAVEN and awaited a Savior from there. They waited and watched - and kept up small, consistent, repetitious yet challenging habits to keep them going and growing - in faith. hope. and love.
This journey isn’t for the weak. We need to feast on the Sacraments of the Church and be transformed through Jesus Christ present in them to us. Let us carry hope, faith, and joy this week as we practice these simple actions to bring us closer to Home.
Pray for me. I will pray for you, too.
