Vatican City, Dec 10, 2017 / 05:49 am
During Advent, we should prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus like we joyfully prepare our homes for a visit from a family member or friend, Pope Francis said Sunday, especially removing anything keeping us from Christ.
"When we await at home a visit from a loved one, we prepare everything with care and happiness. In the same way we want to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord: to wait for him every day with solicitude, to be filled with his grace when he comes," the Pope said Dec. 10.
In his weekly Angelus address, Francis reflected on the day's first reading from Isaiah, which says to "make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low."
The Pope pointed out that the valleys in this passage can represent our sins of omission, such as failing to pray, or praying very little. The valleys could also be the ways we have failed to have charity toward others, especially those most in need of material or spiritual help.