Between Two Worlds: The Temporal and Eternal in the Advent Journey

The Last Judgment - Stefan Lochner -c1435

Collect

Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admittance to his company. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

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The Tension Between the Temporal and Eternal

St. Augustine famously said in his Confessions, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rest in you.” This restlessness that we all experience is the recognition of our ultimate dependency on God and His grace and mercy.

As you pray the Advent Collect today, reflect on the idea of the tension that we live in regarding our earthly life and are our desire for heaven. This tension is a recurring theme in all of Christian spirituality. The ultimate fulfillment of human desire is the beatific vision—the direct contemplation of God. This is the end goal of our earthly pilgrimage.

The Collect’s plea of “may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son” is a call not be hindered by worldly distractions, but to have a singular focus on Christ. And in that singular focus, we would do well to find God in all things and direct our actions towards His greater glory.

The quest for heavenly wisdom invites us into a heartfelt conversation with God, where the Holy Spirit breaks through the deafness that hinders us from hearing Him. And how can we hear Him? Through the transformative practice of Lectio Divina, the ancient practice of deeply reflecting on Sacred Scripture. When we contemplate God through the practice of Lectio, we open ourselves to an intimate encounter with God, allowing His Word to resonate within us and guide our thoughts and actions.

As we enter into the second week of Advent, may we gain a deeper foothold on the transformative power of grace that leads us to conform our lives and have a deeper union with Jesus. This union is not just a future hope but a present reality that begins in the sacramental life of the Church.

Mass Offertory Prayer

Be pleased, O Lord, with our humble prayers and offerings, and, since we have no merits to plead our cause, come, we pray, to our rescue with the protection of your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.