Advent – A time of Preparation
Wikipedia defines advent as “a Christian season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ at Christmas”. It is also the beginning of the liturgical year in our church’s calendar. It is a time we associate with preparing for the coming of our Lord and saviour. Reading through a blog, blessedcatholicmom.com, the author makes these excellent suggestions on how we can best prepare during this advent season.
Pray more. Our Lord teaches us to pray continually and never lose heart (Lk 18:1). What better way to welcome His birth than to regularly talk with God. Listen to what He has to say to us. If you’re not quite sure of what to pray during this season, perhaps you may want to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. There are a lot of online resources available, as well as apps such as ‘Laudate’ and ‘Pray as you go’.
Go to Mass more often. Attending Mass helps us keep our focus on God and less on the consumerism of the Christmas season. Filipinos have a devotional, nine-day series of Masses called ‘Simbang Gabi’ or ‘Night Mass’, literally. Usually celebrated at dawn from the 16th to the 24th of December, the tradition helps put emphasis on the spiritual preparation for commemoration of the birth of our Lord.
Go to Reconciliation. One of the best ways to celebrate the birth of our Lord is with a clean heart. Reconciliation, instituted by our Lord in His love and mercy, offer us forgiveness for our sins. In confession, we can repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. Through absolution, we are reconciled to God and the Church. And it helps us stay close to the truth that we cannot live without God (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults).
Our Lord admonishes us to ‘stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect’ (Matthew 24:44). Let us take this Advent season to prepare our spirit, our hearts, and our minds; focused on the richness of our faith and giving glory to our God.
Randy Reyes
Parish Pastoral Council Chair
