Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection in his wonderful small memoir from the late seventeenth century, The Practice of the Presence of God, tells us of experiencing the presence of God as he washed dishes in the monastery's kitchen. The late Mother Teresa saw the face of Jesus in the faces of the cast out dying poor of Calcutta. Jesus taught us that the kingdom comes from within as well as without. Perhaps we can only receive the gift of the kingdom if we are prepared to accept it. To receive this great gift we must make a space for it.
Advent is traditionally a season of self-examination.
The focus is not on penance, as in Lent, but on preparation. I was speaking to a Catholic colleague of mine about hearing confessions last week. He said that every age has particular sins that are characteristic of it. Anger and anxiety are characteristic of ours. There is such stress and tension in our lives that all of our relationships are affected-at home, at work, and with God.