A full jar is of no further use. An empty jar is ready to be filled.
This is an ancient teaching. If you want the Spirit to enter your life, you must empty yourself in order for there to be room for the Spirit to reside.
It’s just a few days before Christmas. It’s usually a hectic time for Christians in today’s world. Presents to buy. Dinners to plan. Trips to plan. If your mind is constantly filled with all these thoughts, then where is the Spirit to enter?
To use Advent to prepare to celebrate Jesus’ entry into the world, it is useful to find time every day to stop. Stop the busy-ness. Stop the planning. Stop the worries. Just stop. Rest. Empty your mind by focusing on your breathing and allowing thoughts to drift away.
Now you can meditate on some part of the Christmas story such as I have been exploring this month. Now you are letting the Spirit fill you. Now you can complete your tasks with a new outlook on life. You can plan that dinner in the Spirit of God rather than out of obligation. You can choose and give gifts out of love rather than simply tradition.
Stop now. Take a few deep breaths. Calm yourself. Focus on Mary preparing the manger to receive her baby.
Faith Venture 
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