And So ... An Invitation ... Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room!
“He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:10–14
If the St. Martin’s Communication Team and I have timed this right, this is the last of my Meditations for the Advent Season and this one is being released on Christmas Morning, 2023.
My hope is that what I offered in this small collection, borrowed in part from my book, “Preparing Room,” has helped you through meditating, praying and reflecting on the Advent and Christmas story. Consider the truth that the unfolding of the story depends on how people responded to God’s invitations.
It should occur to us that Mary could have said, “No.” And though she said “Yes,” Joseph could have gone through with his plan to turn her out. And though Joseph said “Yes,” Mary’s family could have shunned her. And though her family said “Yes” to the babe in her womb, the innkeeper could have said, “No room and no manger. Move along.” The wise men could have played Herod’s game and brought the whole story to an end, but they said “Yes” to follow the star and “Yes” to the child-King. And, of course, when John could have made a run for Jesus’s rightful place, he chose to say “Yes” to the Messiah and “No” to the man in the mirror.
When I wrote this piece to be included in “Preparing Room,” my mother had recently ended her battle with cancer by saying, “Yes,” to whatever gift our heavenly Father offers us after death, in September of 2010. I can still remember about a year and a half ago when my father called with the terrible news. The “C” word had, for the first time, entered our immediate family’s lives.
For a long 18 months, my mother said “Yes” to virtually every treatment that came her way, including the constant, consistent and loving care of my father. “Yes” to medicines, chemotherapy and radiation. She said “Yes” to doctors’ visits, scans and x-rays. She even said “Yes” to saying goodbye to things that had been part of her daily life such as driving, shopping and vacationing. It is how we cope with life as we watch it dwindle away.
Her heart and the substance of who she was, were being prepared for the next great chapter. Before her last breath, my mother smiled. My faith tells me that was a smile not simply given to those around her, but to the One who was now offering what she was being prepared for throughout her life’s journey — more, eternal life. Her life changed; it did not end. Her healing changed; it did not end. The love our family had for her changed; it did not end. At the end, she received yet another miracle: the end of death is the beginning of life.
As I believe my dear mother knew, to experience all of the life, love, and healing God wants for all of us, there is the acceptance of his invitation. Our God is a loving God. He will not force himself upon us. He comes with that good word to each of us, “Greetings, favored one.” What follows is a promise of all the things any human soul could ever want, both here and in the life beyond.
In many of the churches I have served, there are little cards in the back of the pews where visitors can ask to be called upon, members can offer prayer requests and children can scribble drawings. I have kept a few of them throughout the years. Once, a card placed in the offering plate made its way to my desk the next Monday morning. A child had written, “Dear God, I love you a lot. I wish that I could meet you in person.”
The birth of Jesus gives us each a chance to not just read about Jesus, but to meet him in person. I wonder if the clutter, now moved from your heart, has prepared room for Him to take up residence in a new way that perhaps He has not yet done? Maybe the old anger you have been holding onto is now gone and can be replaced with charity. Perhaps fear has been brushed away and faith can now take its place. Maybe grief and sadness have been your companions for too long and now there is room for joy and laughter. Maybe addiction or sin has been released and now there is room for recovery and forgiveness. Maybe loneliness and isolation will finally be met with companionship and salvation.
It is a matter of saying “Yes” to God’s invitation. The story we have lived through these days is a reminder that we are not alone and we are not without resources to face whatever comes our way.
Throughout my adult life, one of my real heroines has been Corrie Ten Boom. She was a wonderful Dutch Christian who survived the Ravensbrück Concentration Camp during World War II and became one of the leading evangelists and missionaries of the 20th century. She used to tell the story of an encounter she had with a young student named Anton, who attended one of her Bible classes in Holland. Anton was severely mentally challenged, and he could neither speak nor walk alone. He was in Corrie Ten Boom’s class for a short time.
This is how she described an important exchange – and invitation – they shared.
Anton listened to my Bible stories, but when I spoke too long to suit him, he yawned . . . I did not know how much Anton really understood.
Once I took his hand and touched his five fingers one after another and said, “Jesus loves Anton so much.”
The next week, when Anton saw me, he took my hand and with his fingers outspread, looked at me with a face full of longing.
“Jesus loves Anton so much,” I repeated, touching a finger at every word. Then I taught him to do it himself.
After that, every week, Anton showed me with his fingers how much Jesus loved him.
The last time I saw him, I told him while he touched his fingers with his right hand, “Jesus loves Anton so much. How thankful I am for that! You too, Anton?”
“Yes,” Anton said, as his face lit up.
It was the only word I ever heard from Anton ... it is the most worthwhile word that any person can speak to the Lord Jesus.[1]
“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” God has been whispering since the dawn of time, “I love you so much.” Advent and Christmas whisper, “I love you so much.” And now, even as you read these pages, God whispers, “I love you so much.”
What do we do with God’s offer? What do we do with God’s invitation? We can certainly reject it. God has left that choice to us and even that comes out of love, but far better it is to simply say “Yes,” and do so by preparing room.
A Prayer
Joy to the world!
The Lord is come:
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room ...[2]
And your heart ...
And my heart ...
Prepare Him room ...
Amen.
My dear friend, say “yes” to His invitation ... Say “yes” today ... And know the gift of the eternal joy of the Divine One we call Jesus.
Christmas Blessings to you and those you love.
[1] Corrie Ten Boom, “Clippings from My Notebook” (Minneapolis: World Wide Publications, 1982). 120–21. By permission of SPCK.
[2] “The Church Hymnal,” 100.
