The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Fourth Sunday of Advent, BCP 212)

The Collect for this coming Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, has a very optimistic view of our spiritual lives. It assumes that God visits each and every one of us each and every day and that the openness we have inside of us for God can be compared to a mansion. Granted, it is the Church's and mine own personal belief that God does visit each and every one of us each and every day. Unfortunately though, I'm not sure all of us have mansions waiting inside of us for God.

Mansions are huge. Monstrous affairs with high ceilings, lots of extra space, lots of windows and light and freedom of movement. Most of us don't live in mansions, let alone have mansions inside of us. Sadly, many of us don't have that much space inside of us at all for God. We are crammed so tight with worries, regrets, sorrows, and concerns, we have a hard time bringing any light in or moving freely in our own lives.

Thankfully this season of Advent gives us time to prepare and clean out our lives, our hearts, our minds, and our souls, so we can have a mansion waiting for God. God comes to visit us each and every day, not just on Christmas. Let us prepare a place for Him in our lives. 

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