This morning, my Advent calendar offered an unexpected surprise: a small stone. At first, I chuckled, thinking, “Not quite the gold, frankincense, or myrrh.” But as I reflected on the stone, its cold and solid weight struck me as a symbol of the very thing Advent calls us to examine—our hearts.

Stones, by their nature, are hard, resistant, and unyielding. How often do our hearts take on these qualities? Perhaps it’s the unspoken grudge we’ve nursed, the rigidity of our pride, or the wall we’ve built to protect ourselves from hurt. Advent invites us to ask: Where has my heart become like a stone, and how can I allow God to soften it?


The theme for this second week of Advent is the conversion of heart. Isaiah’s words resonate deeply: “In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low” (Isaiah 40:3-4). Preparing a path for Christ means leveling the rugged terrain of sin and indifference in our hearts.

But this process is not easy. Conversion requires humility—a willingness to admit where we’ve gone astray—and trust in God’s transformative power. Like the shepherd in today’s Gospel (Matthew 18:12-14), who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to find the one that is lost, God seeks us out with relentless love, longing to carry us back into His fold.


Today, we also celebrate the Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Loreto, which reminds us of the home God first chose to dwell in—a simple house, filled with love and openness to His will. Tradition holds that the Holy House of Loreto, where Mary received the angel’s message, was miraculously transported to Italy. This house symbolizes Mary’s immaculate heart, free from sin and entirely receptive to God.

Mary’s response to God—“Let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38)—offers a stark contrast to the hardness of heart we sometimes carry. Her example encourages us to be soft clay in God’s hands, allowing Him to shape us as He sees fit.


Softening a hardened heart often begins with prayer. The Jesus Prayer, a simple yet profound plea—“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”—is a powerful way to invite God’s grace into our lives. It echoes the humility needed for true conversion and aligns us with the shepherd’s voice, calling us home.

Reconciliation is another avenue for softening. Whether it’s approaching the Sacrament of Confession or mending a broken relationship, these acts of courage and humility clear the path for Christ to enter more fully into our lives. As Isaiah reminds us, “Comfort, give comfort to my people” (Isaiah 40:1). Softening our hearts allows us to both receive and extend that comfort.


Here’s a simple challenge for today: Carry a small stone in your pocket as a tangible reminder of the areas in your heart that need softening. Each time you feel it, ask yourself, “What hardness am I holding onto?” Then, entrust that burden to God in prayer.

As Advent unfolds, let’s embrace the invitation to prepare our hearts. Like Mary, let us become homes where Christ can dwell, reflecting His love and tenderness to the world. And when Christmas morning comes, may we find our hearts not as stones, but as places of warmth and welcome for the Savior.

“Lord, my heart can be so hard, resistant to Your will and Your love. Please soften it. Help me to prepare a straight path for You, free from pride and sin. May I imitate Mary’s openness and humility, welcoming You into every part of my life. Amen.”