The Gift of Advent Calendar: Day 5!

Christmas is the chance for us to prepare our hearts and home for Christ's coming. However, have we readied ourselves for Him on a house built on a rock? Or on sand? Today's reading is on, as you might have guessed, on Jesus' parable of the man who made his house on the rock and the man who built one on the sand. 

"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them
will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house. 
But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 
And everyone who listens to these words of mine
but does not act on them
will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 
The rain fell, the floods came,
and the winds blew and buffeted the house. 
And it collapsed and was completely ruined." (Mt.7:24-27)

The rock is our faith, and the sand is lack of trust in God. In life, there are many "storms" that we will encounter that will try to shake our faith. Are we prepared? Is our faith strong enough to survive? Or will it fall? For our faith to hopefully be steadfast, the only thing we can do is pray. Padre Pio said, "prayer is the best weapon we have." Let us arm ourselves with prayer as our defense against the trials and storms encountered. 

Day 5: Let the Sky Rain Down Justice and the earth bud forth a Savior. -Isaiah 45:8

Fifth Day of Advent Prayer

God of strength and protection, 

I turn to you because I need help. 

I long to be free enough 

to trust that I can lean on you.

But I become afraid. 

Help me to trust you, Lord. 

Your strength and power 

are a gentle place of protection.

Be a safe refuge when I am being trampled. 

I long for your help, your protecting care. 

Help to deliver me from the cold 

loneliness of these dark nights.

Amen.

Ta, Ta for Now!