Making Room for the King of Glory: Advent, Waiting, and the Care of the Mind

As we come to the end of the Advent season, it is good to reflect on the wellbeing benefits Advent brings to our lives. Advent slows the inner tempo. It invites the heart to unclench and the mind to breathe. Through simple rituals and patient waiting, it restores balance and steadiness. This is especially needed in a world that feels rushed and noisy.

The responsorial psalm captures this movement clearly: “Let the Lord enter; he is the King of glory.” Mentally and emotionally, this is an act of hospitality. We make space within ourselves. We choose peace over pressure and hope over hurry.

Advent works quietly. It softens the spirit over time. By insisting on waiting, it restores a healthy sense of time. It reminds us that not everything must be solved immediately. Its gentle structure, lighting candles, marking weeks, and following familiar readings, brings predictability without pressure. This steadies the mind.

Advent also makes room for quiet and reflection. It reduces mental overload. It allows emotions to settle rather than be suppressed.

Hope during Advent is steady and practiced. It strengthens resilience, even when life feels unfinished. Through faith, tradition, and community, Advent draws us beyond our inner monologue. It balances darkness without denying it. Advent teaches the mind how to wait with meaning. It teaches the heart how to welcome light.

Reflection Questions

1.    Where did Advent slow my pace?

2.    What did waiting teach me this season?

3.    Which Advent rituals supported my wellbeing?

4.    Where did I choose peace over pressure?

5.    How did quiet shape my inner life?

6.    Where did I notice hope growing?

7.    What light will I carry into the season of Christmas?

Action Points for the Last Few Days of Advent

1.    Begin each day with a pause: Take one slow breath and inwardly pray: “Let the Lord enter.”

2.    Protect a daily space of quiet: Set aside ten minutes with no noise, task, or distraction.

3.    Practice waiting without filling it: When delayed, resist rushing or multitasking. Let waiting become prayer.

4.    Choose peace in one small action: Slow your speech, soften your tone, or ease your pace.

5.    Prepare your inner threshold for Christmas: Ask: What do I need to lay down so Christ may enter freely?

Fr Jude Mukoro, MBACP, FHEA (Reflection on the fourth Sunday of Advent, 2025).