Is our soul open to receive the Lord or is it closed with a sign that says “Do not Disturb?’”
This was the question Pope Francis posed today during his homily at Casa Santa Marta. The Holy Father reflected on the approaching Christmas celebration, a time that calls us to live everyday waiting for the Lord.
“We, as the Church, accompany Our Lady in this path of waiting,” the Pope said. “The Lord comes two times: that which we commemorate now, the physical birth and when he comes to conclude history.” However, he noted, there is a third coming of the Lord: that which occurs every day.”
“The Lord visits His Church every day!” the Pope exclaimed. “He visits each one of us and our souls enters into this similarity: our soul resembles the Church, our soul resembles Mary. The fathers of the desert say that Mary, the Church, and our souls are feminine and that which is said of one, can similarly said about the other. Our soul is also waiting, in this waiting for the coming of the Lord, an open soul that cries: ‘Come, Lord!’”
Each one of us in these days, he continued, is called to come in this time of Advent. We are called to be pilgrims in this time; pilgrims that have the virtue of vigilance. The Holy Father called on the faithful to ask themselves whether their souls are open to the coming of the Lord.
“For this the Church invites us to pray this “Come!”, to open our soul and that our soul be, in these days, vigilant in waiting. To keep watch! What happens in us if the Lord comes or if he doesn’t come? If there is a place for the Lord or if there is a place for parties, for shopping, for making noise…Is our soul open like the Holy Mother Church and how Our Lady was open? Or is our soul closed and we have attached a sign on the door, very courteous, that says: ‘Do not disturb!’”
Concluding his homily, Pope Francis encouraged the faithful to repeat the prayer calling for the Lord to come into our souls this time of Christmas.
“May it be an open soul, a big soul, to receive the Lord in these days and that you may hear that which the antiphon the Church will recite tomorrow: ‘Know that today the Lord comes! And tomorrow you will see his glory!’” the Pope exclaimed. (J.A.E.)
