“Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before Him, at peace” – 2 Peter 3:14
The beauty of having a relationship with God is that He is all-knowing and forgiving. In reading this passage from Peter, some of the phrases like “the heavens will be dissolved in flames” and “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief” may instill fear in some of us, but the reality of the entire scripture reading is that God wants us to be prepared and ready for His blessings. He wants us to be open to all that he has to offer so that we are always ready to receive Him no matter what circumstances we are in. We are not perfect, we are sinners, but if we keep our minds and hearts on the blessings He has in store for us each day, we will always be ready for Him. They begin this reading using the term “beloved” meaning “deeply loved” or “dear to the heart.” From the beginning of this passage, it is understood that this message is coming from the deepest place of love. This reading also notes that God is patient with us and that He is giving us time to repent for our sins. When I think about Advent and the connection to the Xaverian identity, I think about all the new students, families, faculty/staff, and alumni who begin a journey together. A journey of excitement, learning, growth, and my favorite Xaverian virtue, trust. Just as stated in the XBSS Charism statement that we are “seeking to find God and to be formed by the ‘common, ordinary, unspectacular flow of everyday life’” this reading reminds us that if we keep our hearts open to the simple daily functions of each moment, we will find God in the little things.
Lord, please empower us to find You not only in times of need, but in times of joy and thankfulness and to keep us open to Your blessings. We beg You, Lord, to continue to be our protector and our savior as we go about our daily lives. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.
Anif McDonald