Message From the Conventual Prior
ADVENT
MESSAGE
My
Dear Confreres,
As we embark on
the sacred journey of Advent, a season of hope and grace, let us prepare our
hearts to welcome the arrival of Jesus. The time is ripe to open our doors,
both physical and spiritual, to receive His love and guidance. In a poignant masterpiece, the renowned artist Holman
Hunt depicts Christ standing in a serene garden, lantern in hand, gently
rapping on a door. Upon beholding the artwork, a friend of the artist remarked,
“Holman, it appears you have committed an error; the door you have rendered
lacks a handle.” The artist's response was profound: “No, my friend, this is no
mistake. For the door I have painted is the portal to the human heart, and it
is a door that can only be opened from within.”
Dear confreres,
the image of Christ standing outside and knocking resonates deeply, carrying an
eternal invitation: Open the door. Let me in. Allow Him to enter the
recesses of your life, each part illumined by His presence, guiding you toward
growth and flourishing. The Jesuit scientist Teilhard de Chardin grasped this
profound truth-the necessity of turning inward, of opening the door to our own
souls to behold the beauty and goodness within. Reflecting on his spiritual
journey, he remarked, “The deeper I descend into myself, the more I find God
at the heart of my being.” Thomas Merton, too, expressed this mystery, but
in his own way: “To find love, I must enter the sanctuary where it is
hidden, which is the mystery of God.” Thus, to open the door of our hearts
is to step into the boundless treasure of our own existence and encounter the
divine presence that dwells there.
So, shall we, dear
confreres, make a humble effort in this sacred season of Advent to unlock the
doors of our hearts to Him who stands knocking? Shall we meet the One who is
already seated within, waiting? The choice lies before us: to open or to remain
closed, to meet or to turn away. If we choose to open, then Life Himself will
be ours-the Giver of Life, our unfailing joy.
Warmest wishes to
you all for a blessed and meaningful Advent season, dear Fathers and Brothers!
May this sacred time of preparation bring you spiritual growth, renewal, and a
deeper connection with the Lord.
Conventual Prior