The psalm for today makes one think, "how do I live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, even now?" When we look at the imagery from Isaiah, we see a beautiful scene in which God has prepared a feast for us, death has been defeated, and all our sadness has been wiped away. Both, admittedly, are scenes that seem so different than the reality we face today: a world filled with indifference, violence, doubt, and hopelessness. Perhaps we will resign ourselves to the fact that this reality must simply be endured until the great feast comes and we can finally dwell with God in peace. I think, however, there is another way.
During this Advent season, we can learn what it means to dwell in God’s house here on earth. In the feast of the Eucharist, God is present and Christ himself is our food (an upgrade even from rich food and choice wines!), and we, God’s ordinary children, become his dwelling place. It is difficult to see how we could be raised to the level of the magnificent scene in Isaiah, and for good reason. We are a wounded people searching each day for success, or perhaps even just survival, and we cannot see the nobility bestowed upon us by God. We cannot hear his voice, reminding us that while the world remains indifferent, he is not indifferent to us.
This Advent, may we prepare for the heavenly feast where we will see the Lord face-to-face by participating in the sacramental feast. Let us recognize the sacred in the ordinary, beginning with ourselves, so we can prepare for the coming of the Lord who comes to us each day faithfully and quietly. Let it fill us with hope and expectation for the day when we will dwell in the house of the Lord, and he will dwell in our hearts.