O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
We're almost into the 2nd week of Advent. The 2nd of the 4 candles will be lit this weekend in the Advent wreath. For most people, what they observe at this time of year is not so much Advent, but rather getting ready for Christmas. Yet, we are supposed to deal with Advent - what can be said?
Advent essentially is a time of preparation - the first part is to focus on our preparation for the Kingdom of God. The seoncd part is to focus on our preparation for Christmas. Often, there are themes assigned to each week: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Remember these things - and you will know more than most Catholics!
Stores seem to have mastered how to deal with the four weeks before Christmas. In fact, they mastered this for two months at least. Christmas decorations are up. Christmas cards and wrapping paper is for sale. People are working on their cards, candy, cookies, invitations, and every possible thing that can be done to make this season special - even if we're not being liturgical.
In the parish, I always found it so hard to focus on Advent - for the simple reason that preparing properly for Christmas is a stressful conitnuous activity. Anyone in Church ministry who is not exhasted and drained by the time Christmas is over has simply not had much to do. I've been retired the last couple of Christmas celebrations = so I was not exhausted like in past years. But did have a couple of masses each Christmas - which was very welcome.
As of this writing, I have not written a card, have not even bought cards to write and send. I don't have a list of things that I want to give people. And so many other things that I have not done. As I look about the apartment where I live, I just grimace in a kind-hearted way. Not one sign of Christmas on the inside or the outside. It looks like an atheist lives at my address. Sigh. Must do something, but don't yet know what.
Oops, I just looked inside an LL Bean carton - opened it. Yeah - I now have my Christmas decoration? A kind soul sent me a Yule log. Now I have to find a place to put it - which I will do later tonight. This now motivates me to go into the garage tomorrow and take down the storage container with Christmas stuff - there is some Christmas hope left yet.
Could this be the spirit of Advent - now morphing into Christmas? Why not? I like it.
I am going to try to prepare in a simple way for Christmas - especially to prepare in gratitude for all the people who have been so good to me. I spend at least an hour a day in prayer for lots of people. I will pray harder for greast family and friends. We live in a hurting world - that needs prayers and patience and joy. I will do my part.
Happy Advent. Merry Christmas.
