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The Christmas Cycle
“The Lord is nigh.” We are redeemed, and we have been incorporated into the mystical body of
Christ. It would be strange to find in a Christian a consciousness of this incorporation in Christ
and at the same time any kind of sadness or sorrow; the two are incompatible. Such a state of
mind would show a lack of appreciation for what Christ has done for us, or a great indifference
and ingratitude toward the Savior.
“The Lord is nigh.” If we could only grasp this idea and regulate our lives by it! “May he
serve Thee joyfully in Thy Church.” Perhaps the reason we fail to reach this blessed state of mind
is that we are so reluctant to separate ourselves from the specious joys of the world. The price
of the peace and joy that Christ brings is mortification, death, sacrifice, and the renunciation
of worldly pleasure.
Prayer
Incline Thy ear to our prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and enlighten the darkness of our
minds by the grace of Thy visitation. Amen.
Monday
The liturgy is aware how near God is and confidently reminds us: “Be nothing solicitous; but
in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known
to God” (Epistle).
“Be nothing solicitous.” A strange command! Are we, then, able to work out our own salvation?
Is our eternal salvation assured? Do we not need the light and grace and guidance of
God to be redeemed from a single grievous sin? Are we not always in danger of falling back
into sin? We know that for every increase of grace, for every meritorious work, for every
meager act of virtue, we must depend on the help of God. Indeed, our Lord has told us,
“Without Me you can do nothing” ( Jn 15:5). Grace must begin and perfect all things in
us. Of ourselves we are unable to do any good whatsoever; and yet the liturgy tells us, “Be
nothing solicitous.” Why is this? “The Lord is nigh.” He is here to redeem us and to give us
the light and the strength that we need. Look upon Him, believe in His nearness, in His
love, in His solicitude for you.
Unfortunately we are the more occupied with the thought of our own misery than we are
with the mystery of God’s love for us. Because we have our mind fixed on our own insufficiency
rather than the powerful help that God offers us, we are sad. The contemplation of our own
misery will bring us only confusion, discouragement, and regret. Such is certainly not the proper
spirit for the season of Advent. Let us rather “be nothing solicitous.”
In heartfelt prayers of thanksgiving and contrition we should make our petitions known to
God. Such is the message of today’s liturgy. Prayer is the all-powerful weapon that is placed in
our hands. If we have need of anything whatsoever, we know that “the Lord is nigh.” He is near
with His love and His mercy. Therefore cast your solicitude on the Lord. The more miserable
we are of ourselves, the more confidently we should turn to Him. The misery and wretchedness
of our state prompts God to help us more readily. And the Lord, as the Introit tells us, will bless
His land, His inheritance, and will free us from our captivity, our sorrow, our evil habits, and
will lead us home. “The Lord is nigh.”
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