Prepare Our Hearts, By Your Divine Power
Collect
The Mass Collect powerfully captures the active, intentional preparation central to the Advent season as we eagerly await Christ's coming.
Prepare our hearts, we pray, O Lord our God, by your divine power, so that at the coming of Christ your Son we may be found worthy of the banquet of eternal life and merit to receive heavenly nourishment from his hands. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Prepare Our Hearts Jesus!
Today’s Collect calls us to ready ourselves for the banquet of eternal life that Jesus offers to us.
Jesus often used parables to awaken our spiritual awareness, emphasizing that an open, seeking heart is crucial. Consider the story of the Samaritan woman at the well: through her encounter with Jesus, who offered her "living water," she came to recognize Him as the Messiah and found salvation. Like the Samaritan woman, may we learn to listen!
Let us also reflect how each time we receive the Blessed Sacrament, we take into ourselves Jesus, the living and eternal Bread of Life. By partaking this heavenly food regularly and worthily, we build up our spiritual strength to walk ever more closely with our Lord. May we be found worthy to receive Him!
Let Us Pray
Come quickly Lord Jesus! Increase our longing as we wait. Amen.