The Word is Coming: Will We Recognize Him?

by Anthony Lilles

Keeping watch and waiting for the Lord is part of the mystery of Advent Prayer.
If we keep faithful to the discipline of this Advent,
a grace that we do not expect will seize us
and we will find ourselves plunged into the most beautiful paradoxes:
With Divine Power, the Word is coming in a new way, and
we cannot presume we will recognize Him.
Just as fasting from physical food
keeps us spiritually hungry for the Bread of Life, and

Interrupting our sleep for prayer
helps our hearts find rest in the Prince of Peace, and

Pondering His teaching with our hearts
humbles our intellect and baptizes our imagination in glory:

So too setting aside our daily routine for the sake of our neighbor
aids us in our quest
For the One who has set aside everything for us.

 

Photo via Unsplash by Jarl Schmidt

Anthony Lilles

Anthony Lilles, STD, has taught graduate level theology and assisted in clergy formation since 1994, having served at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Denver, St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, and St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo prior to joining the faculty of St. Patrick’s Seminary. With a BA in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, as well as an ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum), he is specialized in St. Elisabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church. He co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded and serves as president for the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture. In 2014 at St. Patrick's Seminary, he helped start and teach an annual summer spirituality program. He was appointed Academic Dean from 2019-2022 before joining the full-time teaching and formation faculties.

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