Uncluttered Joy
Nineteenth Day of Advent. Friday, December 19, 2025
Dear friends,
During past holidays, we made plans, got busy decorating, visited special locations meaningful to both of us, and shared moments with family and friends. We cherish many of those times with fondness and joy.
This year, something changed. Advent is different from all the ones before. We made no plans, left decorations in their boxes, no tree, no nativity scene on display, and waited to see how this season might unfold. And it has. We created a space where we go to meditate, reflect, and pray. It calls us to make room in our hearts for Christ’s arrival: the Advent wreath. Gone is the rush and flurry of activity that, in times past, consumed us; left behind are the expectations of making the season memorable.
We are reimagining Christ’s arrival as the ultimate lesson in simplicity. We reflect on the Advent readings, which speak of His coming, the unfolding of God’s salvation and justice, while learning how to care for the poor and needy.
We ask ourselves: What role do we have in this revelation? Will we join Mary in her wholehearted “yes”—that simple acceptance of God’s work in her life, opening the door to uncluttered joy? What if we realized that by letting go of earthly treasures, our hands are free to receive the kingdom? “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). That joy isn’t about having more; it’s about wanting less—less distraction, less anxiety, less conformity to a world that can’t truly satisfy. It’s rooted in a devotion focused on a single heart turned toward God and toward our neighbor in need. Stores may suffer from our modest neglect, but we are not.
We also discover that remaining in this simpler space is never easy. Letting go of holiday expectations can leave a void that longs to be filled by other things. We struggle to have a better understanding of the patience involved in waiting. But we also find small glimpses of joy shining through, like light breaking into darkness (Isaiah 9:2). We hear the faint echoes of Scripture announcing “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). We wait for God to draw near to us, to be with us — Emmanuel.
May this Advent season clear away clutter, calm worries, and open our hearts to be ready and waiting for the great and simple joy of God’s presence.
Watching and waiting,
