Thursday of the First Week of Advent

When I was a child of about five years, my father and I would occasionally take together imaginary trips. He would sit me on his lap and say, "Let's go on a trip!" My ears were vital to these trips because they served as our suitcases. My father would fold up my ears as though to be packing them and then we would be on our way. We never tired of doing this repeatedly: folding, releasing, folding, releasing.

Jesus tells us that in addition to listening to his words, we must put them into action. On life's journey, neither empty words nor empty bags will do. We must fill our traveling bags with acts of compassion, mercy, and tenderness.

We have just embarked on our Advent journey. Let us open our ears and listen attentively to His Word. As we prepare to welcome Jesus into our hearts, may we never tire of gathering and packing repeatedly life's collection of heavenly souvenirs, so that when we arrive at our final destination, we will not be caught sinking into the hollow ground of spiritual contraception, but rather standing on the hallowed, solid foundation of fruitful Divine Love and permitted to enter into the lap of Our Heavenly Father's kingdom.

Dear Jesus, let me hear only what you say, and then do only what I hear.