What I Found in Merton's The Seven Story Mountain
Come Lord Jesus, Drive Out My Darkness
Photo By: Myriams-Fotos
There’s a song by The Porters Gate that so perfectly describes our longing in this season of Advent for Jesus to drive out the darkness of our world and lives.
Come, O come
Be our Light
Drive out the darkness
Come, Jesus, come.
(by The Porters Gate)
It was the night before Advent started and I started sobbing. I had just been to Confession and found myself yet again failing. Falling into the same sins I just confessed. It was a painful realization and reminder of the Savior I need every hour of every day.
Every Advent, I start to ponder once again how much I need a Savior to drive out all that is dark around and within me -- all the things I can’t drive out with my own strength.
If you’ve ever been addicted to anything, if you’ve ever had a sin you just can’t get rid of with your willpower, if you’ve been to the deep waters of despair, if you’ve ever found yourself captive to the anxieties of life, if you’ve ever wanted an end to your suffering, or if you’ve ever needed a miracle that only God can give, you know you need a Savior.
Why? Because you’ve reached the cusp of your power. You’ve realized that you can’t save yourself. None of us can. That’s the true meaning and joy of Christmas that we await and long for in Advent.
So we pray this Advent: Come, Lord Jesus. Come save us from all that impedes our union with You. Come be our miracle and promise fulfilled. Come light the way through our darkness.
About the Author
Katie Zalany lives in Cleveland Ohio. She is a Third Order Secular Franciscan (OFS), spiritual director, benefits/wellness leader, and certified health and life coach. She volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul Society serving the poor, is an active mentor to many individuals, and a prolific writer. Her writing interests and focus areas include spiritual development, reflections on the Gospel life, Franciscian spirituality, prayer, and integration of faith and work/daily living. She is the published author of Called to Corporate: Lessons of Growing in Faith and Holiness from the Corporate Cubicle.
