Do Not Wait

12/23/2017

Step #1: Lectio / Read

Click the link below or open your Bible to the passage and read through the reading at least once, paying attention to what is happening in the text.

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24

Step #2: Meditatio / Meditate

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

When I first sat down to take a look at today’s reading, I was particularly struck by one line:

“Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears?”

I have not been able to move past this. What a great question. Who will endure the day of His coming? Who will be able to stand before the Lord when he arrives? These questions and more led me to reflect on my journey through advent thus far.

I love advent, and I look forward to it every year. I look forward to having a few weeks set aside where I can solely focus on preparing for the coming of our Lord. I make a renewed commitment to my personal prayer life, to being generous with my time and money, etc. Advent has served as a “restart” of sorts for my spiritual life.

But is that the best approach to have? As I read our first reading today and was struck by that line, I thought to myself, “I need to be doing more throughout the year to be ready for the Lord’s coming, not just wait for advent to roll around."

There is nothing I want more than to be able to endure the Lord’s coming. There is nothing I want more than, when the time comes, to stand before Him and have Him be overjoyed with the ways I have strived to love and serve Him with my whole life.

So if you are anything like me, I want to encourage you to not wait until tomorrow, do not even wait until later today. What can you do right now, in this moment, to better prepare yourself for the coming of our Lord? Is there something you need to seek forgiveness for? Ask for forgiveness right now. Have you been holding back from sharing your heart with the Lord? Pour it all out to Him now. Do not wait.

As Christmas approaches and a new year lies ahead, I want to encourage you all to commit to recommitting yourself to Christ every single day. The moment you wake up, regardless of what happened the day before, commit your life to Christ. You can use this simple prayer.

“Jesus, I commit my life to you today. May my words and actions reflect who you are. Use me as you will. Amen."

Step #3: Oratio / Pray

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

How has God spoken to you this Advent? In what ways has He been working in your life as you wait for His coming at Christmas?

What can you do right now to draw closer to the Lord? What ways can you invite Him into your life in a renewed way?

As you move forward, how can you make sure that you are making time to focus on the Lord each and every day?

Step #4: Contemplatio / Contemplate

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"I choose You."

"I long to stand before You."

"Make me holy today."

Step #5: Actio / Act

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?

Take the concrete step you prayed about in the reflection. If it is to go to confession and ask the Lord's forgiveness, do that. If it is to take time to pray and turn things over to Him, do that. And do whatever is immediately, not waiting but giving it to the Lord now.

Smartphone Lock Screen

The following image is here for you to save and use as a background or lock screen on your smartphone or device to help you carry today's Lectio Divina with you the rest of the day.

Today's prayer was prepared by Connor Flanagan, a Youth Minister and Catholic Musician who lives in St. Paul, MN. If you have anything you'd like our team to pray for, please go to the page of our website called "Prayers" and let us know how we can pray for you today.

CARPE VERBUM