My kingdom is within…
These words stare back at me from the notes in my planner, hastily scribbled in a moment of distraction at work. I like to think I wrote this in more of a prayerful pause…but in all honesty, I was probably more distracted than prayerful.
On November 29 I added this to my list of things to write about when I had more time, with an additional note of Advent theme…and I am only just now writing about it, with scarcely a few days of Advent left.
The futility of time- there is never enough time to do everything we want to accomplish, and this futility bears especially heavy in the busiest season of the year. At 4:30 the sun sets and the day is over, inviting us to curl up by the fire with fuzzy blankets and warm drinks and try to forget about everything we haven’t done and which will drag us cruelly out of bed before sunrise the next morning.
My kingdom is within.
This is a paraphrased excerpt from a homily given by one of my favorite priests just before the dawn of the new liturgical year. He reminded us that all of salvation history is a love story between the Father and his children, who were begotten in his love before any part of the universe existed. And every Christmas, this love becomes new and born again in our own hearts, if we give him our yes…if we welcome the most perfect child the world ever knew with the gentleness and gratitude that his mother and father welcomed him…if we sing his praises with the angels, give him our hearts with the Magi, and dare to approach his crib with an offer of the little warmth we can give, as the stable animals offered hesitantly in their humility and wonder.
I recently heard from another wise priest that certain angels were created for the sole purpose of praising the Christ Child when he was born in Bethlehem. They had no other reason for existing but to herald the savior of the human race, squirming in his newness of life, crying in the piercing cold, and finally resting in his mother’s tender and virginal arms. And every year, when the winter is coldest and darkest, Jesus comes to remind us with the light of his eternal truth, that we were created only for unity with him.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.
If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
The wonderful thing about the Father’s house and the Father’s love which invites us to dwell with him there, is that they’re completely independent of time and our futile attempts to fight against it. The love begotten before the dawn of time and completely transcendent to any measure or schedule is becoming present and tangible to us as Christmas approaches, no matter how many gifts we’ve bought or received or how many plans for caroling or dinner parties we’ve made. We don’t need trees, electric lights, material gifts, or even family traditions to make him more present. We need love. We need to say yes, to open our hands so he can take us and lead us safely home, where he has been preparing a place for us since before he even created the song of the angels.
You will see his glory within you.
The Bridegroom in whose presence kings fall silent is knocking on the door of your heart. He wants to fill you with his beauty and radiance and light.
Will you let Him in?
Journal Written by Mary Catherine Froula
Scripture Study Questions: Revelation 3:19-22
After reading this reflection what stood out to you? Why?
Have you ever felt the business of life taking your focus off of the Lord? When do you experience it most often? What are ways we can slow down and return to the Lord?
What are ways the Lord is renewing His love in your heart in this season?
What are practical ways we can imitate the Father and His charity towards us?
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