I spend way too much time on my phone. Whether it’s scrolling endlessly through Instagram, watching YouTube videos, or listening to music and podcasts any time I drive anywhere. I have so much noise in my life-so many voices coming at me at almost all times from all over the place. I’m distracted. 

Our Gospel reading for this first Sunday in Advent warns us to “stay awake!” – to be prepared. But too often I am unprepared, with my mind jumping from one stimulus to the next without ever taking the time to listen to the one voice that truly matters above all else. Too often God gets drowned out by all the other voices in my life that are vying for my attention. Scripture teaches us that the voice of God is heard, not in the roar of the wind or the thunder of an earthquake, but in the soft, gentle whisper that can only be heard when all else in our life is silent. This beautiful passage from the first book of kings illustrated that idea beautifully:

“Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave” (1 Kings 19:11-13).

Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for God. To turn our focus back to Him who is the source of Life, Goodness, Beauty, and Truth. Last week we celebrated the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The king is coming, and we need to prepare our hearts to receive Him.