When God comes to me, what do I do next?

In the Sunday Gospel of the second week of Advent, we learn about John the Baptist preaching. It says “the word of God came to John.” How wonderful it is to know that God is a seeker too, perhaps looking for the open hearts in which to communicate to the world. I imagine as John receives God’s word he cannot contain it. He is compelled to do something with this Love and, as the reading says, then John “went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming…” a message of repentance, forgiveness, and justice.

Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year. It is the Church’s new year and is the time that prepares us for Christmas and the year ahead. Advent is full of mystical themes, rich with meaning and depth.

The word Advent comes from the Latin – Adventus – meaning “coming”. Advent is often seen as a three-fold preparation:

• We prepare for celebrating the coming of Christ as a human baby – the Nativity.
• We prepare for celebrating the coming and presence of the Spirit of God every day.
• We prepare for the final coming of Christ – in the world, or with us at the end of our life.

Yet, we live in a culture that is so quick to ignore this preparation, and move into the celebrations of Christmas. It’s mid-September and already stores are filled with Christmas decorations. Hallmark channel begins running Christmas movies in October and Christmas music starts playing on the radio the day after Halloween!

As Christians – particularly Catholics – the culture doesn’t support us as we try to savor the delights of Advent. So…we need to take the time and make the efforts ourselves.

Let us truly take the time this Advent to prepare our hearts and our spirits for the coming of God in in a more mindful and conscious manner.

Still Point E-Journal Advent Season