Preparation

Image from Pinterest, Anonymous Artist

I just love the season of Advent. It’s such a beautiful time of year when we prepare for our blessed Lord Jesus’ birthday. It’s more than a celebration of His birth though. It’s also embracing His humanity, His being a part of a family, and His first milestones ~ His birth in humble surroundings ~ His presentation in the temple and ~ the visitation of the three Kings. All of that will be recognized and celebrated from Christmas day right through the 12 days of Christmas that end with the arrival of the Magi on January 6^th.

When you think about it, the Jesus’ story is so multi-layered, yet so much like our own. We too, suckled at our Mother’s breast, had our nappy’s changed, and relied on our parents to feed and clothe us. As we grew, we worked beside our parents in keeping our homes clean and neat, eating and praying together as a family or beside our Dad’s in their workshops or even their places of business. How many of us went into our own family’s business, as He did before His time for ministry began.

We all know how He went on to choose His first disciples at the beginning of His ministry. We know His teachings and we know His ultimate sacrifice for us. Even though He is God, in His human form he felt the same things that we do, empathy, love, joy, sorrow, abandonment, and peace. He was fully God. He was fully man. Jesus was born specifically for us and His birthday is a day of joy and celebration. Glory and praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ, King of Kings.

During this Advent season prepare for His birthday as you would any other that you celebrate. By all means put up the Christmas trees and the stockings and bake all those delicious treats. Buy presents for your loved ones. Clean your houses and put out the good china and the polished silverware and wear those new outfits and bangles and baubles.

But don’t forget to also prepare your soul for His coming. Say extra prayers daily. The Magnificat, which is shared following this post, is a wonderful prayer to say or you can get daily reflections for Advent from many on-line bookstores. Say the rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Go to Confession. There is a day of reconciliation on Monday, December 16th in New York City. Check your own parish for dates and times. Go to Mass on the Sundays of Advent, and afterward, and on the Holy Days of Christmas and the presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. Receive Communion. Give to the poor. Feed the hungry. Be kind to people that you meet in person and on the roads. Instead of checking on your elderly or disabled neighbors invite them into your home or surprise them with a meal or two. Just be kind and gentle with people or, in other words, be Jesus’ hands, heart and embodiment here on earth.

Come back to Christ for Christmas but first prepare for His coming by embracing Advent!

God bless you during this season of joy, peace and especially love.

Mare

The Magnificat

My soul magnifies the Lord
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm,
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy
Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.