ADVENT: A Welcoming Home

Linda
32m
3 min read

Make your home in me, as I make mine in you. Jn 15: 1-7

Jesus proclaims that God loved us long before we could ever begin to

love one another. This love is total. It is full and unconditional. “I love you

with all my divine heart. I embrace you with all that I have. I send you my

inmost self. I want you to breathe my breath. I want you to live in the

endless embrace of my love. Here you can find your home. I have made

my home in you. You can make your home in me". ~Henri Nouwen

Our theme for Advent 2025 is about creating a welcoming home for the Holy One. How are you preparing for advent? What is it you long for or desire this season? How will you create space in your schedule to reflect and open yourself to new life. There are lots of activities to distract us: watching the news, holiday gatherings, church activities, purchasing gifts, preparing food, and unpredictable air travel. It takes some planning and intentionality to create space for God in this busy season of the year.

Perhaps we can learn from the birds, how much time and attention they give to preparing a home for new life. It is quite fascinating to watch the process of building a nest. It is a buzz of activity. Each species has their own style of nest. Some species build it together while others the male or female builds the nest. All of them use fragments of twigs, silk, dry grasses, mud, saliva, spider webs, or other bits of ordinary things. After putting it all together piece by piece, they hollow out a space to be still, lay eggs, and wait to receive the gift of new life. Once the hollowed-out nest is built, there is little activity, just sitting patiently and waiting in anticipation for the new life to emerge.

Video of a hummingbird building a nest

I was once told by a spiritual director that I should "just sit down or "just show up." "That is all it takes. God will do the rest". Find a spot that is comfortable to you. Decorate the space with a candle or other favorite symbols that help center you and sit down. Relax, take a few deep breaths and sit quietly for 20 minutes.

We begin our advent reflections on Sunday, November 30. You will receive two posts a week, Sunday and Wednesday, for the four weeks of advent. Each week we will share poetry, scripture, a song, art, and ideas for reflection. If you already receive our blog, you don't need to subscribe for them again. They will automatically show up in your email. If you would like to share them with others, advise them to subscribe on our website, Practicing Sacred Rhythms. The blog posts are free, though we welcome donations which make it possible for us to give scholarships for retreats for those who cannot afford the cost of the retreat.*

Song: There is a Longing in my Heart

Lyrics:

There is a longing in our hearts, o Lord for you to reveal yourself to us