When I opened today’s Advent calendar, a small heart sticker greeted me. My first reaction was a mix of amusement and puzzlement. “A heart sticker?" I thought of all the times I gave blood and afterwards I was given a similar sticker with the words "I gave today". Maybe today's item isn't just about the heart but also about the sticker’s stickiness leading to a reflection on "What am I attached to? What am I holding onto that keeps me from truly loving God?"
Advent is a time to prepare our hearts—not just for Christmas, but for the coming of Christ at the end of time. It’s a call to let go of our attachments to anything that isn’t God, to smooth the rough edges of our hearts and make way for Him. This week’s theme, the conversion of heart, is a reminder to ask: what attitudes, habits, or distractions need to be peeled away so that I can stick more closely to God?
The Sticky Nature of Attachments
Saint John of the Cross, whom we commemorate today, understood the dangers of unhealthy attachments. He taught that even good things can hold us back if we cling to them too tightly. He once wrote, “The soul that is attached to anything, however much good there may be in it, will not arrive at the liberty of Divine union.”
Imagine a bird tethered by a string. It doesn’t matter if the string is strong or weak—if it’s tied, the bird cannot fly. Similarly, our attachments, whether to sin, comfort, or even good things like success or relationships, can prevent us from soaring toward God. Advent invites us to untangle these cords and free our hearts to love fully.
A Heart on Fire
Saint John’s life exemplifies this detachment. Born in 1542 in Spain, he became a Carmelite friar and later a key figure in the reform of the order. His deep desire for union with God led him to embrace a life of poverty, prayer, and sacrifice. His writings, like The Dark Night of the Soul, guide us through the painful yet liberating process of letting go of attachments so we can encounter God more deeply.
Despite enduring imprisonment and suffering, Saint John found joy and freedom in his detachment. His heart clung only to God, allowing him to pen poetry and prose that still inspire the Church today.
Prepare the Way of the Lord
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reflects on how Elijah’s mission prefigured the work of John the Baptist: turning hearts back to God. Conversion is never just a one-time decision; it’s an ongoing journey of turning away from sin and toward love. This Advent, we’re called to examine our hearts and clear out whatever might block Christ’s entry.
The heart sticker is a gentle reminder: love is meant to stick. But what we choose to attach our love to matters. Are we sticking to grudges, pride, or distractions? Or are we adhering to God’s call to humility, service, and repentance?
A Practical Takeaway
Here’s a challenge for today: Take a moment to reflect on what’s clinging to your heart. Is there an attitude—like impatience or selfishness—that needs to be released? Or perhaps there’s a habit, like scrolling endlessly on your phone, that you can offer up in love. Write it down and pray for the grace to let it go.
As you do, remember the words of today’s responsorial psalm: “Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.” The promise of Advent is that when we detach from what weighs us down, we’ll see the face of Christ more clearly. And that’s a love worth sticking to.
Closing Prayer
Saint John of the Cross, guide us in the way of detachment. Help us to free our hearts from all that keeps us from loving God fully. May we prepare a place for Christ in our hearts this Advent, so His love may dwell in us and through us. Amen.