Making space for Christ this Advent
Advent arrives every year at a time when life is anything but calm. End-of-year responsibilities, school events, work deadlines, family pressures, and preparations for Christmas all seem to gather at once. It can feel overwhelming, even impossible, to slow down.
And yet, this is exactly where Advent meets us.
God does not wait for a perfect moment or a quieter season. He comes into the reality of our lives: full, messy, stretched, and honest.
Just as He came quietly into the hiddenness of Mary’s womb and the simplicity of Bethlehem, He comes into our homes, workplaces, and relationships with the same gentle desire: to dwell with us.
This is the heart of the Dwell ~ an Advent journey with Mary to her Eucharistic Son, who desires to be close to His people.
Walking with Mary
Mary is the first dwelling place of the Word made flesh. In her, we see what it means to welcome Jesus: listening, trusting, making room, and carrying His presence into the world.
The devotional reflects this Marian rhythm:
- Encounter — like Mary receiving the angel’s message
- Deepen — like Mary carrying Jesus quietly and faithfully within her
- Mission — like Mary bringing Christ to Elizabeth and revealing Him at Bethlehem
This same rhythm shapes our renewal and the daily life of every disciple.
Letting Christ Dwell in the Everyday
The reflections, prayers, and “mission actions” in the devotional are intentionally simple, designed for the real Advent most people live. A few minutes of Scripture, a candle lit in the evening, a quiet breath before work — these small, chosen moments help us make space for Christ to dwell.
Welcoming Mercy: The Gift of Reconciliation
Advent is a gentle season of return.
John the Baptist’s cry, “Prepare the way of the Lord,” is not about pressure but hope, an invitation to come home.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the clearest ways we make room for Christ. Many of us carry quiet worries, mistakes, or burdens; confession is where Jesus lifts those burdens with tenderness and restores peace.
During this season, check your parish notices for Reconciliation times, especially the extra opportunities offered during Advent.
Small Ways to Dwell with Jesus
The Dwell booklet encourages simple, realistic practices:
- pray with the Sunday Gospel using Lectio Divina
- light an Advent candle and invite Jesus to dwell in your home
- use the daily opening and closing prayers
- choose one mission action each day
- let Mary guide you in quiet openness and love
Grace begins in small spaces. Advent is not about perfection — it is about welcome.
Emmanuel: God With Us
As we draw closer to Christmas, may we discover again the truth at the heart of Advent:
Jesus, Mary’s Son, comes close to us in simplicity and love — in the manger, in the Eucharist, and in the ordinary places of our lives.
May this Advent journey with Mary lead you to a deeper peace, a renewed hope, and a quiet joy in her Eucharistic Son who longs to dwell with His people.