Preparing the Way of the Lord

 
MEDITATION FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19TH

“Prepare ye the Way of the Lord” (Luke 3, 4).

First Prelude: Hear Holy Church ever anew admonishing the faithful, and picture her good children redoubling their zeal in their preparation the nearer they approach to the day of Christ’s advent.

Second Prelude: O Lord, let me recognize my great need of Thy assistance, that by interior recollection and fervor in prayer I may endeavor, with all my strength, to draw down upon myself Thy graces and blessings.

FIRST POINT

PRAYER, A NECESSARY MEANS OF PARTICIPATION IN GOD’S GRACES

Realizing what obstacles still obstruct the way for our Divine Saviour, have we not sufficient reason for discouragement on account of the enormity of the task before us, especially when we consider our weakness and utter misery? Experience has only too clearly proved that of our own strength we cannot for one moment resist evil and do good. Realizing the full malice of perverted nature, is it not natural that we turn to God in fervent prayer, Who is powerful of Himself to release us from so deplorable a condition? Therefore, we cry to Him for grace and mercy: O Divine Word, direct my footsteps! Come, O Sun of Justice, by Thy light and warmth, vivify those who sit in the shadow of death! O Saviour of the world, come and redeem us!

No time is more appropriate for prayer than the time of preparation for Christmas. We will, therefore, unite ourselves with our dear Saviour, Who, as our High Priest, persevered in constant prayer before His birth. Oh, how ardent were His entreaties as He pleaded for the whole world with the Father! At that time, He prayed for each one of us; our momentary needs were before Him and even then He commended them to His heavenly Father. With what confidence must not this thought inspire us! God Himself prayed for me; how could such a prayer remain ineffectual! It depends upon me alone whether or not I shall partake of the bountiful fruits of this prayer which will flow to me in abundance, provided I desire them ardently and persevere in prayer. Is not this my duty, and in consideration of my misery, a dire necessity, though, at the same time, a mystery of peace and happiness?

Our needs are so great and manifold that we can ill afford to cease praying, no more than the poor can desist begging for alms. There is, further, no nobler nor sweeter occupation for us than communion with God; a life of prayer will make a paradise of this place of exile, will give us a foretaste of heaven. No matter how great the difficulties that we experience in prayer, we will persevere courageously and use violence to acquire a good so necessary and so conducive to our happiness. We will often call to mind the promise of Christ “Whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name that will I do” (John 14, 13).

SECOND POINT

SILENCE AND RECOLLECTION AID US TO ACQUIRE THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER

The nearer the great day approaches, the more diligently must we guard our hearts against distractions, that we may the oftener ponder the mystery of the infinite love of God in the Incarnation. Let us recall the good resolutions with which we desire to rejoice the heart of our Blessed Saviour. If by means of recollection we succeed in banishing all unnecessary cares and solicitude, then we shall be able to offer an acceptable dwelling place to the Infant Saviour. But we shall never acquire recollection of spirit and interior silence unless we carefully avoid every unnecessary word, for exterior silence cuts off all superfluous thoughts and desires. It is the custodian of the heart, and the faithful and persevering exercise of it fosters the spirit of prayer.

How solicitously should we, therefore, observe silence! Is it not meet for souls consecrated to God in the religious state, espoused to Jesus, to immolate to Him all the affections and inclinations of their hearts, all the faculties of their souls? Like the angels, who while beholding the Beatific Vision, hasten whither their office calls them, and bear heaven whithersoever they go, silent souls remain constantly in the heaven of interior solitude, occupying themselves with God’s perfections, Whom they behold uninterruptedly in prayer and recollection, and give Him love for love, as a child its father. Religious, who so frequently receive their Saviour in Holy Communion, find Him like Mary in the tabernacle of their heart, there to praise Him every hour, to live for Him and to cherish affectionate intercourse with Him.

Oh, what holy desires animate souls thus intimately united with God! In union with Mary and Joseph and all pious souls, they offer to the Christ-Child in the manger the oblation of most ardent love.

Let us incessantly entreat the Holy Spirit to form and mold that tender piety in our hearts which will give our life and our efforts to acquire virtue the correct and proper trend. All depends upon our acquiring the spirit of prayer, even at the cost of a hard struggle, for through it we not only receive grace to combat our faults, but acquire the necessary strength for the practice of virtue. Above all let us be faithful in the observance of silence, the ornament and mainstay of religious life, and remove from our minds what might hinder our intercourse with God, that Jesus, who loves to impart the plenitude of His grace to interior and silent souls, will find our hearts well disposed at His advent.

Affections: O Divine Saviour Whose infinite sanctity becomes more and more manifest to us in meditation, we realize how zealously we must cleanse ourselves of our faults. Thy ineffable clemency has called us to intimate union with Thee even in this life, and one day to behold Thee face to face in heaven. Oh, render us worthy of such a sublime calling; Thou alone canst do it by Thy all-powerful grace. We entreat Thee, by the ever blessed Virgin Mary who gave Thee, the Source and Author of all graces, to the world. Through Mary and in union with her, we dare to approach Thee and pray with all the ardor of our souls; “O Thou Root of Jesse, Who art a signal to the people in whose presence the Kings are silent, and unto whom the nations cry ‘Come and deliver us now and delay no longer.’ ”

Resolution: I will prepare for the advent of the Lord by silence and fervent prayer.

Spiritual Bouquet: “The Lord is nigh” (Ps. 44, 19).

Prayer: Jesus, my Lord, my King . . .