The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
Advent invites us to open our hearts to God’s transformative work, which often means allowing Him to renew parts of our lives we’ve kept hidden or guarded. Today’s reading from Baruch encourages us to “take off [our] robe of mourning and misery” and instead “put on the splendor of glory from God.” These words resonate deeply, reminding me of a time in my life when I carried a heavy “robe” of my own—a time when I was searching for stability and acceptance but ended up in a place that didn’t lead me toward joy or peace.
Back in high school, when my parents divorced, I found myself struggling to feel at home anywhere. I craved connection and community, and I reached out to anyone who seemed willing to welcome me. But in my search for belonging, I ended up in circles where people didn’t call me to be my best self. Instead, they encouraged me to settle for less, to hide my true values, and to live guarded. That was my “robe of mourning”—the hurt, loneliness, and confusion I carried with me, hoping to cover up my pain but also feeling more and more disconnected.
Advent is a season that whispers, “Let go. Let God clothe you in something new.” It took me a long time to see that God was calling me to something better. Like Jerusalem in Baruch’s prophecy, God was asking me to “stand upon the heights” and see that I was not forgotten. Gradually, through prayer and encounters with people who genuinely cared, I began to take off that robe of self-protection. I found spaces and friends who reminded me of God’s love and my true worth.
Reflecting on those years now, I see how God’s mercy was always there, even when I was too hurt to notice. This Advent, we’re all invited to let go of whatever robes of sorrow or self-doubt we’re carrying. God longs to cover us with His love and clothe us in joy, peace, and purpose. We can trust, as St. Paul writes, that “the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it.”
Let’s make room in our hearts for that work this Advent, allowing God to replace our mourning with His splendor and to lead us in joy, by the light of His glory.
Closing Prayer:
God, You know every part of my heart—my joys, my fears, the places I keep guarded. This Advent, help me to let go of what I don’t need to carry. Show me how to trust You with my worries and my wounds. Wrap me in Your love and remind me that I’m never forgotten. Give me the courage to embrace the life You have for me, surrounded by people who call me to be my best. Guide me by Your light, and let this season be a time to grow closer to You, step by step. Amen.
Chenele Shaw is a former youth minister, theology teacher, and current young adult trying to live her life for Christ, frequent her therapist, and eat all the cheese! She desires to be her authentic self and help others as well. You can find her watching reality tv, going to confession, and updating her Spotify playlists. Follow her on Instagram and say hey!