The Advent season is a real gift to us. With all the preparation for Thanksgiving behind us yet fresh in our minds, we move into the Christmas season, which started in retail stores this year in August. There is Christmas traveling, family gatherings, shopping lists, the anticipated ‘Black Friday” and ‘Cyber Monday’ with all the shopping frenzy and hype. Don’t forget the Christmas cards, tree decorating, baking items, and various parties. Wew! We become exhausted. Holiday depression sets in. The Christmas season then becomes a season of survival and trying to keep one’s sanity. What might the Advent season offer us for sanity and perspective this year?
On the first Sunday of Advent we hear the words from the prophet Isaiah of a future time “In the days to come.” We are encouraged in the readings to stay awake and alert, for God’s plan is going to come upon us suddenly. How acutely we felt this with the sudden unexpected death (heart attack) of our beloved Shepherd, Bishop Sirba (age 59) on December 1, 2019.
On the second Sunday of Advent Isaiah again proclaims a specific time and day coming. He says, “On that day.” The Gospel sheds more light on our second theme of being prepared. For John the Baptist calls us to repent and to prepare the way for One who he is “not worthy to carry his sandals.” Will I take advantage of times for the sacrament of confession and moments of silence?
The third Sunday of Advent Isaiah speaks of a place where “the glory of the Lord, the splendor of God” will be revealed and present. It will be a time to rejoice, our third theme of Advent. To meet the Lord with joy and gladness and not sorrow or mourning denotes a searching for Him, taking time to fine tune our senses to be open for this encounter. Am I intentional in seeking an encounter with God?
On the fourth Sunday of Advent, Isaiah again tells us that God is going to give a sign that will help us know He has come to earth to fulfill His promises and to establish His Kingdom of justice and peace. A child will be born of a virgin. His lineage will be of the line of David. His name is Emmanuel; God With Us, our fourth theme. This would be a good week to take a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and sit before the creche scene or a picture of Mary, Joseph, and the babe at that first Christmas and ponder “God becomes man, to be with me.”
Advent helps us to focus; to take life from the general hub bub way the world lives and helps us narrow things down to converge on what is important. The Church, as a loving mother, is reminding us to slow down, ponder the themes, and be intentional in how we prepare spiritually during this season of Advent. Our response? Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus, Come!
For Reflection:
Are we awake and alert to what God continues to do in our lives? Are we prepared to encounter Him in the unexpected? Do we rejoice and give thanks for all things that come our way? Do we recognize God With Us in our daily lives?”
Prayer:
Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus, Come. Help me this Advent season to prepare well for You to be born anew within the stable of my heart.
(blogged December 1, 2024)
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