“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth… so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” — Isaiah 55:10-11
Dear Friends,
Advent is a time of particularly intense preparation, as we ready our hearts to welcome God’s Word made flesh. How does this happen? The great Cistercian St. Bernard of Clairvaux offers excellent advice.
“Where is God’s word to be kept?” he asks. “Obviously in the heart, as the prophet says: ‘I have hidden your words in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.’” St. Bernard continues: “Keep God’s word in this way. Let it enter into your very being, let it take possession of your desires and your whole way of life. Feed on goodness, and your soul will delight in its richness. Remember to eat your bread, or your heart will wither away. Fill your soul with richness and strength.”
What might that mean for each of us, in our daily journey? How can we keep God’s word in our hearts and delight in the richness of the Lord? Perhaps time with God’s word in Sacred Scripture is what we need—perhaps we could prayerfully read Luke 1:26-39, to bring us into Mary’s heart, into our own hearts and ultimately into the heart of God.
God bless,
Fr. John Pietropaoli
