November 28, 2021
Advent: Preparing our hearts to receive Christ
As we prepare to celebrate, once again, the birthday of Jesus, a question presents itself: what difference did Jesus’s birth make for us? As we go to Christmas parties and engage with all the expectations of Christmas like shopping, gift giving and ‘peace and good-will to all mankind’, what real difference does the birth of Christ make in my life?
Advent Season gives us a chance to prepare our hearts and homes for the second coming and the celebration of Christ’s birthday. It is a time for faith communities and families to remember through prayer, reflections, special music, and good deeds the true meaning of Jesus’ birth. Here are few ways we can celebrate Advent and prepare for Christmas:
Get involved with Church activities: I invite you to join our parish in renovating your spiritual life and your personal relationship with Jesus. I personally invite you to be part of our Advent Parish Mission from December 12-14. Fr. Jim Rafferty from the Institute for Priestly Formation will be leading our Advent parish mission. I also want to invite you, as a family, to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Advent liturgies with us. I am very sure this time of prayer and worship will bring special blessings to you and our parish family.
Adopt a family for Christmas: Helping a family over the Christmas will help us grow spiritually and live Jesus’ commandment of love. It also will inspire a sense of giving in your children. You can do this by being part of our Human Needs Group family Christmas project.
Use the Advent wreath as a time of daily prayer and reflection: Consider using short reflections for a daily gathering of your family for prayer around the Advent wreath. Children especially enjoy lighting the candles and counting how many are lit each week. This builds the suspenseful anticipation and helps us to prepare our mind and heart for Christmas.
Purchase an Advent devotional or sign up for a free devotional message or video: There are many on the market that are helpful to meditation. Our parish uses publications by Magnificat and Word Among Us. You can find both digital and hard copies of these and other Advent reflection books online. There are many apostolates that offer free Advent reflections for the modern Catholic in the form of short, inspirational videos and reflections. For example, you can sign up for Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire Advent. This is an example of ways you can still connect with your faith while you are on your daily commute or on your lunch break at work. This also remind us that we truly can find the time for daily prayer, despite our increasingly busy lives.
Visit a Living Nativity: It’s a beautiful way to put into perspective the gift of Jesus as an infant and to imagine what that first Christmas must have been like. Prepare your heart for Jesus by visiting a Living Nativity this Advent.
Prepare an empty manger for Jesus: Place an empty manger in a special place in your home. Have your family members place a piece of straw or nativity figures in the manger every time they do a kind deed or make a sacrifice. This tradition symbolizes each person’s effort to prepare a special place in their hearts for the baby Jesus.
Here are some other ideas:
Call a friend you haven’t spoken with
Visit a neighbor who lives alone
Bring something special to your local homeless shelter
Say a prayer for a different person each day
With gratitude for all you have been and done to grace our parish, I hold you in my heart and in my prayers this Advent and Christmas season, asking God to bless you with peace, joy, hope and love. If there is anything, I can do for you and your families please feel free to contact me. Happy Advent.
Fr. Mario, Associate Pastor