By Father Eugene Hemrick • Catholic News Service • Posted November 30, 2012

In the corridors of the U.S. Capitol’s House of Representatives, a colorful painting contains William Jennings Bryan’s quotation, “Our government conceived in freedom and purchased with blood can be preserved only by constant vigilance.” It echoes Christ’s parable of the wise virgins who kept their lamps filled with oil in anticipation of the bridegroom.

Scripture reminds us constantly to keep vigilance and be prepared. Why emphasize this? It is to be prepared to meet God.

This principle is sound, but it does cause tensions. We know we should be on our toes, but every so often we are tempted to ease up and release the tension. How, then, do we fulfill the biblical call for preparedness and deal with the tensions it causes? What should we be thinking?

To prepare means to put things in order ahead of time. It calls for asceticism, which helps put order in one’s life. This causes tension because it calls for constant alertness and often denying ourselves some of the comforts of life. On the other hand, maintaining orderliness is of the essence to true happiness.

When we respond to this God-given gift, heartfelt happiness results. When order is missing, we become out of order, resulting in lack of peace of mind.

Advent is a wonderful opportunity to check on how well-ordered we are in fighting what threatens that order. For example, pornography is one of the worst diseases of our times. When we succumb to it, it creates shame and guilt. We realize we are not ordered to God’s desire for us.

Advent is a wonderful opportunity to check on how well-ordered we are in fighting what threatens that order. For example, pornography is one of the worst diseases of our times. When we succumb to it, it creates shame and guilt. We realize we are not ordered to God’s desire for us.

Other things that can disorder us are perpetual conflicts at work or in our homes, or losing hope in a world that is hopelessly locked in wars. The list of things that make us ill-disposed is endless. When ill-disposition arises, kindness — which is to be well-disposed — is jeopardized.

To maintain a good disposition is to maintain our spirit of kindness — to keep the inspiration of love alive within us. And how do we accomplish this? One way is to practice the spiritual practice of prayer.

Each morning, make a short one-line prayer that addresses something that is causing you ill disposition and making your life disorderly. Repeat the prayer throughout the day, reminding yourself to head off the disorder before it can get a hold on you.

The order and subsequent peace of mind this practice can generate could make this Advent the best ever for you.