Advent reminders can be found all throughout the monastery, even these last days of preparation before Christmas. Our Chapel is still swathed in purple simplicity with the wreath standing vigil until our Christmas Eve Vespers tomorrow night. The widow of our Chapel gathering space still bears the message to wait in hope and anticipation. Another Advent wreath still stands central to our monastery dinning room. These symbols of our faith are the reminders that are expected and obvious. However, the Advent message pervades all corners of our life at the monastery...
These chalk boards are mounted to the wall near the entrance to each floor of our bedroom area (a.k.a. dormitory). The sisters of 4th Floor have had a gentle Advent reminder this year. That in all ways and in all places we are to 'Prepare the way...". The simple drawing is reminiscent of Isaiah's prophecy that "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be lifted up, every mountain and hill made low; the rugged land shall be a plain, the rough country, a broad valley (40: 3-4). As we walked by this Advent reminder on the way to Vespers on this final Sunday in Advent, we were reminded that there was still time to prepare, still work to be done to make ready the way of our Lord.
Blessings,
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