What does Advent mean to you?
I know I find it hard to prepare for Christmas in peace and proper reflection this time of the year can be pretty hectic and crazy. I can easily get caught up in all the things that I need to do and the gifts I need to buy. And all the things that are to come in the next year.
To be honest, I find it easier to prepare for and be more disciplined for Lent.
Like Lent, Advent is a season of waiting, of preparation, of joy for the One who is to come. I know I am guilty of finding it hard to be joyful and peaceful when I have so many things I need to get done before Christmas and I feel time slipping away with the year drawing to a close.
How about we pause for a moment? Let's stop and reflect on what this season really means. How can we prepare ourselves for this Christmas Feast? How can we make more room for Him? Let's try placing ourselves in the shoes of Our Lady. What do you think she felt in the weeks before Jesus was born? Was she scared? Was she excited? I’m sure she didn’t know what was to come, but she did know who she was carrying. How do you think she and St Joseph prepared for the birth of Jesus? I think they would've been joyfully preparing and waiting even without knowing what was going to happen. I think they kept giving God their "yes” and continued to keep trusting in Him wholeheartedly. Let's look to their examples and make more room for Jesus. Let's prepare meaningfully and most importantly internally rather than externally because Christmas and Advent are much more than the gifts and the decorations. Let’s avoid taking this time for granted and instead prepare our souls for His birth, the life He freely chose to give us and reflect on what this really means. Let us wait with confident hope and not forget the true joy and love that this season brings.
janz.
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