Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room.
And heaven and nature sing."
We sing these words every Christmas season, but they are more than a familiar carol. They are an invitation.
Advent is not simply a time of waiting. Advent is a time of creating space. It is a season of quiet preparation, when the heart begins to open wider to welcome Christ.
The Sacrament of Confession is a beautiful way to prepare your heart for His coming. And the beloved Christmas carol Joy to the World offers insight into why Confession is key to getting ready for Christmas.
Joy to the World
Joy enters the heart when sin leaves it. The Sacrament of Confession opens the heart to receive that joy. Many people carry burdens without realizing how heavy they have become. Guilt lingers and shame hides in the shadows. When we finally hand those burdens to Jesus in the confessional, the weight lifts. Advent joy is born in the stillness of the confessional. Each Confession is a new beginning, where the heart is renewed and filled with the joy of Christ.
The Lord is Come
Jesus came into the world in humility, into the poverty of a stable, the darkness of night, and the hiddenness of Bethlehem. Christ continues to come now, quietly, into every soul turned toward Him. Each Confession is another Bethlehem, a moment when He enters the messiness and poverty of the stable within our hearts. In that intimate place, Jesus listens. He welcomes you with tenderness. He draws near every time you open your heart to His mercy.
Let Earth Receive Her King
The King is coming! And the earth receives her King through hearts that make room for Him. The stable in Bethlehem was small and humble, yet open and available. That was all God needed for the King to be born. But His kingdom is not the kingdom of Herod nor that of the distant kings from the East. His kingdom begins in our own hearts when we make space for Him. Step into the confessional and speak the truth in the presence of Christ. As joy fills the heart that welcomes its King, the earth receives her King and the glory of His reign.
Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room
Preparing room for Jesus is at the very heart of Advent. To “prepare Him room” means clearing away what does not belong. It means slowing down and asking the Holy Spirit to guide you in a careful examination of conscience. Jesus is never overwhelmed or discouraged by the mess He finds in our contrite hearts. Our Savior only asks to be invited in. Confession transforms the heart, turning it into a home (a manger) fit for the Christ Child, where His joy, peace, and love can grow.
And Heaven and Nature Sing
Scripture tells us, “There will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). When grace touches the soul after Confession, all of Heaven rejoices, and the heart feels lighter and more free. Imagine the angels singing, the stars shining brighter, and the rustling leaves, flowing rivers, and chirping birds all joining in the celebration! Heaven and all of creation join in celebration when the heart is set free.
Joy to the Earth! The Savior Reigns
Christ the King rules through mercy and peace. He takes His throne and reigns in the center of our lives when we confess our sins. This Advent, let Him reign in your heart. Let His peace and joy reach into every hidden corner of your life.
Let Men their Songs Employ
Forgiven hearts are the loudest in praise. When you hear the words, “I absolve you from your sins,” from the priest in persona Christi, burdens begin to lift and joy begins to flow from sacramental grace. As you leave the confessional, let gratitude rise. Let your heart respond with its own simple song of thanks.
While Fields and Floods, Rocks, Hills, and Plains
All creation praises God in its own way. When the soul is washed of sins in the Sacrament of Confession, it joins that song. During Confession, Jesus works in the heart like a skilled landscaper. He clears the fields, calms the floods, removes the rocks, smooths the hills, and prepares the plains to bear new life. Now, the heart is more open to His grace.
Repeat the Sounding Joy
Do not let Confession be a rare moment. Return often and experience the joy that flows from this sacramental grace. Every visit brings a new experience of His mercy. Each act of repentance strengthens the peace and joy within you. There is always more grace waiting. Our Father never tires of welcoming you home.
He Rules the World With Truth and Grace
In Confession, Christ the King meets us with truth and grace. He helps us to see the truth and respond to His grace. When we confess honestly, we open our hearts for Him to rule within us and for His kingdom to spread across the earth.
The Glories of His Righteousness
The righteousness of God is glorious. When we experience forgiveness, we catch a glimpse of that glory. His righteousness restores. Through the Sacrament of Confession, the glory of His righteousness shines in every forgiven heart.
And Wonders of His Love
When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, there was no room for them. Yet God entered the world in the most humble of places. He found a way. God wants to find a way into your heart too. Do not close the door. Open it wide. Go to Confession. Let grace enter like candlelight in the dark days of Advent. Let His light reach every corner of your heart.
This Advent, let your heart be the stable, the manger for Christ the King to be born. Sweep away whatever keeps Jesus out, and invite the Christ Child to remain within you. Let your heart be the quiet place where you receive the wonders of His love. Do not delay. Receive our Savior’s mercy in the Sacrament of Confession.
Let every heart, especially yours, prepare Him room.
Rose Coleman is an elementary school teacher with a heart for pilgrimage. She traveled the globe on a ship during college and spent some years in the convent as a religious sister. She was a contributing author to All She Had, Blessed Conversations: Rooted, and our children’s devotional prayer book called Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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