My Advent Prayer: May we gain the gift of peace and share it

One who is centered on the Divine
can go anywhere one wishes, without danger.
Perceiving the universal harmony,
even amidst great pain because one has found peace in their heart.
(Inspired by the Tao)

For me, to talk about peace means to talk about prayer. According to St. Benedict, prayer is to be both regular and artistic. Prayer has to bring beauty, substance, and structure to our otherwise chaotic and superficial lives or it is not long before life itself becomes chaotic and superficial.

However Advent finds you this year, whether joyful or full of heartache or a bit of both, God’s message to each of us is that the Divine always desires to console and comfort us, to liberate us, and to guide us along the path we must walk day by day.  God desires to share with us the treasure of His love. We never have to fight for God’s attention.

“The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14

Prayer can be a way to allow God to lead us into the life-giving pastures. We begin by slowing down–slowing down to the speed of love. The speed God envisions life to be lived in so we can sense His immense love for us and share that love with others.  In our culture now, we are lacking solitude and connection. Many ache for love—to know that in our epic failures (and if we live long enough, we all have them, plenty of them) we can find someone who will still love us. That’s heroic love and we all long to be heroically loved—to be reminded that we are made for the heights. That’s the love that God offers to each of us.

This Advent we can make a fresh start to begin our day with God. Just as the morning sun breaks through the dark of night, so God’s radiance can banish from our minds and hearts the darkness of sin and disillusionment. God wants to say to each of us: Be calm and remember that I am God.  We each can respond: Please shine on me and mine today. Help me serve with constancy the author of all that is good.

Dawn finds me ready to welcome you, Lord.

Then we can simply talk with God. Often, the things we don’t want to talk about are the very things that Jesus wants to talk with us about!! Give him access to what he doesn’t have access to in your heart. Bring your pain with you to prayer.  The rays from the heart of Jesus will envelope you and those loved ones you bring to Him. Nothing in this world can help us as Christ can. Remember God’s gaze is always on us desiring that we turn our gaze on Him.  I love the thought that Christ is present where love is needed and when love is given.

God can help us take things as they are and people as they are. God doesn’t give up and neither should we—on ourselves or on others. People often show us where we need to grow. When we don’t deal with our own demons, we tend to demonize others.  Yet, with faith in Christ, we can be confident and unafraid so we have no need to control anything or anyone. We can live in peace with our reality at the moment.

Sometimes prayer can simply be pondering the precious things of life. We can begin a prayer session with:

O, God of Tenderness, I settle quietly into this moment to contemplate your love for me. I surrender to your will.

 We listen for what God has to say and enjoy receiving His love in that moment. Receiving the peace that He promises us and sharing that with the sweet souls that cross our path. During the day, we can pause, look straight ahead, and pray.

We are all on a journey—it can be a journey to wholeness. Sometimes we are led into the desert or wilderness where God will speak to our heart. At times we may feel undone; perhaps, God wants to remake us.  At those times, a good spiritual director or spiritual companion can help shine light in the dark places, and turn things over to reveal things that maybe we don’t want revealed. Yet, God can give us the courage to permit Him to use that pain to heal, slowly and gently.

I recently heard: the right words, spoken at the right time, daily protect and nurture love. I would add: and keep the peace. God always has the right words and knows the perfect time to share them. Spending time with Him in prayer offers the opportunity for God to share His words and His timing with us. To give us His peace to share. A lovely Advent goal.

Preserve us in Your grace,
and guide us in distress,
and free us from all sin,
Till heaven we possess.
                                  (Evening Prayer)