Advent is full of messengers. The angel Gabriel announces the conception of Jesus. John the Baptist is a “voice crying in the wilderness, ‘prepare the way of the Lord.’” We need messengers to get us ready to receive Christ.
Advent invites us to listen and watch for such messengers. They may not come in as dazzling a form as an angel; they may come in a dream, or a conversation, something that gets your attention in the natural world, or even something that upsets you. All of these can be messengers from God, calling you to “prepare the way,” in your own heart and life, for Christ to be born.