The Street Sweeper

“Welcome, dear friends. We are in Day 15 of Advent,
and this is Tiny Advent Parables with Fr. Dominic —
where God’s whispers call us home.”

“Today’s parable takes place on an early morning street…
with a man sweeping the road.”

“A young businessman walked down a street at dawn
and saw a municipal worker sweeping leaves and dust
with quiet dedication.
The man asked him,
‘Doesn’t this get tiring?
No matter how much you sweep,
the road gets dirty again.’
The worker smiled and replied,
‘Yes…
but imagine what the street would look like
if I never showed up.’
As the businessman walked away,
the words lingered.
He realized
he had not been sweeping his heart —
not clearing old resentments,
old habits,
old pride.
Advent that morning
became his broom.”

“Repentance is not punishment —
it’s cleansing.
It’s allowing God
to sweep away what weighs you down.
Forgiveness is the broom.
Humility is the dustpan.
And grace is the fresh road
where Christ walks to meet you.
Repentance is choosing not to let yesterday’s dirt
define tomorrow’s heart.”

“So today, ask yourself:
‘What needs sweeping in my life?’
Let God help you clean what you cannot.
And whisper:
‘Lord, clear my heart for Your coming.’”