The weekend of our traditional national feast of Thanksgiving is crowned with the opening and bright beginning of a new liturgical year. We begin a new year of
grace as we follow the cycle of events and feasts which recall how God is ever-present to us. We journey through the year “remembering” and “entering into” more fully the gift of salvation which we have in and through Christ Jesus. Our Church Year begins with the Season of Advent. There is a beautiful hymn of the Church which exudes a sense of longing and anticipation of these early weeks of
the Church Year before Christmas. “You heavens send down your dew (Rorate coeli desuper) and let the clouds rain down the Just One...let the earth be opened (terra
aperiatur) and bring forth the Savior. More than longing and dreaming for “more stuff,” we can find great joy and peace in keeping alive the desire for the touch and presenceof God’s love in our lives. His grace is like a welcome gentle morning dew for our souls.
Fill me with Your Presence, O Lord
Listen, O Lord, to my prayers. Listen to my desire to be with you, to dwell in your house, and to let my whole being be filled with your presence. None of this is possible without you. When you are not the one who fills me, I am soon filled with endless thoughts and concerns that divide me and tear me away from you. Even thoughts about you, good spiritual thoughts, can be little more than distractions
when you are not their author. Every day I see again that ony you can teach me to
pray, only you can set my heart at rest, only you can let me dwell in your presence. No book, idea, concept or theory will bring me close to you unless you yourself are the one who lets these instruments become the way to you. Help me to remain open to your initiative. Let me wait patiently and attentively for that hour when you will come and break through all the walls I have erected. Yes, Lord, teach me to pray, and to remain open to your presence. Amen.
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