Father Joel's Blog

With the first week of Advent, we now begin a new liturgical year and a wonderful opportunity to grow in understanding and maturity as disciples!  In our scripture readings we ponder the Past …to be attentive to the Present… to be prepared for the Future.

The word Advent comes from the two Latin words, “ad” + “venire”, meaning “something or someone is coming….”

In this season we ponder threefold advent of our Lord: Past, Present, & Future.

This Sunday’s Gospel Message says 'Stay Awake and Be Prepared’  http://www.usccb.org/nab/120207.shtml

So here are two questions for us to ponder:

1)    Do we really LIVE … or do we just go through the motions working on our “to-do” lists everyday? There’s a danger we can go through our entire lives not paying attention to what really matters MOST.
2)    If Lord returned tonight, would you REALLY  be prepared?

If you’re not so sure, here’s Good News:  Advent is the season that helps us to be prepared!

Here are some practical things you might consider to deepen your experience of Advent:
        

1)    Read the Pope’s new encyclical “On Christian Hope” -- Advent is all about HOPE.  It’s about 24 pages long.       Read a page a day.

2)    Use an Advent calendar for daily reflection
3)    Use the Sacrament of Reconciliation
4)    Come to daily Mass if you can
5)    Read Daily Readings for Mass even if you cannot come to daily Mass
6)    Use an Advent Wreath in place of prominence in your home
7)    Consider making a Jesse Tree.   
8)    Listen to Music of the Season (i.e the GOOD music like Handel’s “Messiah”)
9)    Read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens or get the DVD
10)  See the movie, “the Nativity” that came out last year
11)  Set up your manger scene at home but don’t set up all the figures just yet.
   
Finally, make sure that Jesus is a GIFT YOU GIVE… especially to someone in need.    Some ways to give to someone in need are right here.  You can participate in the Angel Tree project (the Angel Tree is in the narthex with ornaments for mothers or children in need )  or partcipate in the “Just Because” Christmas Program.