Advent
By RH
We are in the season of Advent. What does that mean? Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
A woman waiting for the birth of a child makes many preparations. She gets the room ready, she cleans the clothes the baby will wear, she reads about caring for a child, and she waits, sometimes impatiently as the day comes near, but she waits. She doesn’t celebrate the birthday of the child before it is born.
So, we too, must make preparations. Not the preparations of buying gifts and decorating the house; but, the preparations of getting our hearts ready to welcome this little Child.
In this time of waiting, we can spend time reading about Him, cleaning our souls in Confession, and giving up some things that we are accustomed to. Part of waiting is giving up. Society says we must start celebrating now! How can we celebrate if the Child hasn’t been born yet? Trees are decorated, bells are ringing, carols are sung, treats are eaten even before the holiday is anywhere near. By the time Christmas arrives, people are sick of the music and carols and treats. So, the day after Christmas (when the Christmas Season really begins) we hear no carols or bells and the treats are all eaten or thrown away. Only in the Church do we celebrate the birth of Jesus after the birth. Can we go back to living Advent as it was meant to be? Are we strong enough in our Faith that we don’t take our instruction from society?