We are now in the final days of the Advent Season and we find ourselves standing on the threshold of Christmas. This beautiful season of preparation is almost complete and yet the Church calls us today to pause once more and reflect on the important question: are we truly ready – not just for the celebration of Christmas Day, but for the coming of Christ into our hearts and lives?

Our readings this weekend give us a deeper glimpse into the story of God’s plan for salvation. We are being invited to consider how we fit into that story, how we are called to participate in it and respond to God’s action in our lives.

In the first reading, the prophet Micah proclaims that Bethlehem, a small and seemingly insignificant town, is chosen by God to be the birthplace of the Savior. Bethlehem reminds us that God often chooses those who are humble and overlooked to accomplish His greatest works, to reveal His glory. This challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we humble enough to welcome Christ, recognizing our need for Him? Have we prepared our hearts well to be receptive to the gift of His presence? God doesn’t ask for perfection – He asks for openness; He asks that our hearts are ready to receive Him. And if they aren’t receptive, we have to allow the Lord to direct us so that we can see why? What is holding us back from giving Him our entire hearts? Are they distractions that are preventing us from hearing His voice, or sins that we are holding onto that we need to confess, or is it simply being too busy that we end up crowding Him out? Often times, like Bethlehem’s inn, we find that we are too full to let Him in?

In the second reading from Hebrews, we hear Christ say, “Behold, I come to do your will, O God.” That statement from Jesus captures the very essence of the Incarnation. Jesus enters our world not to fulfill His own desires but to fulfill the will of the Father. His perfect obedience is the model for our own lives. How often do we pause to discern how the Lord is inviting us to respond to the situations that arise in our daily lives? Do we follow God’s will in the choices that we make? During this Advent season, have we asked ourselves: Are we living for ourselves, or are we striving to align our lives with God’s purpose? Saying, “Behold, I come to do Your will” is not just a prayer that Jesus made – it is a prayer for each of us to make our own as we seek to live in harmony with God’s plan.

Then in the Gospel, we are reminded of one of the most beautiful and intimate moments of Scripture: the Visitation. Mary, carrying Jesus in her womb, visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is herself carrying John the Baptist. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, the infant John leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb. Even before he is born, John recognizes the presence of Christ. It’s a moment rich with meaning because it reveals the power of Jesus’ presence even hidden within Mary, even as a tiny, unseen child. He is already transforming those around Him.

Then, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, declares, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Her response is one of joy, gratitude, and recognition of God’s action in her life. John’s leap reminds us that Christ’s presence is not always obvious…we’re not always able to see it clearly. We have to stay attentive, we have to constantly ask the Lord to help us experience His presence in those sometimes hidden ways. Because when we are attuned to God’s presence, it always leads us to transformation.

And so, we must ask ourselves: Do we recognize Christ’s presence in our midst? He comes to us in so many countless ways – through the Eucharist, in Sacred Scripture, in the faces of those in need, and in the quiet moments of prayer. He comes to us in the joys and challenges of our daily lives. He shows us His love through our family and friends. He grants us His forgiveness, mercy, and grace in the Sacraments. But how often do we miss Him because we are too distracted, too busy, or too focused on ourselves?

John the Baptist leaped with joy even before he could see Jesus. Can we cultivate that same sensitivity in our lives? This week, as we prepare for Christmas, let’s take time to reflect on where Christ is present in our lives. Is He in the person who needs our forgiveness? Is He in the quiet promptings of our conscience, urging us to spend time in prayer? Is He in the stranger seeking kindness? Is He in the family member we aren’t necessarily looking forward to seeing at Christmas dinner? Christ is all around us, guys. We just have to be attentive and be open to allowing God to reveal Himself to us in those surprising ways.

This last week of Advent is a sacred time. Don’t rush through it…instead let’s open our hearts to the wonder of God’s presence. Be deliberate about taking time to spend with the Lord this week, asking Him to prepare our hearts for His coming. He comes to dwell not just in Bethlehem, but in the Bethlehem of our hearts. Will we recognize Him? Will we make room for Him there?

Photo: Empty Manger, by Greyson Joralemon, Rancho Santa Fe. Used under Unsplash license.