Advent Won't Last Forever: Don't Miss Your Chance
We're almost through the first week of Advent. Before you know it, Christmas will be here. Don't miss your opportunity to prepare your heart.
We Catholics look forward and backward in Advent. We look forward to the Second Coming. Jesus will come again someday. We want to be prepared.
But Advent roots us firmly in the past - in the real event of 2,009 years ago: His birth in Bethlehem, celebrated on December 25th. We want to be prepared.
Most of us struggle to keep God on our minds and in our hearts during a busy work day. In Advent, we have the chance to renew our minds and hearts; we have the chance to make a fresh start in keeping Christ #1 not only "in our lives," but more specifically in each and every day we spend at work - no matter how busy we are, no matter how important the work.
A few weeks ago, we talked about St John Leonardi telling us to start every day anew in Christ. Advent is the perfect time to work on that, to wake up each day with the resolve to start with Christ, first and foremost.
It's also a time to rid ourselves of anything that keeps us from him. That's why it's a good idea to start Advent with confession. It's a good idea to think about those things that we put ahead of Christ and, with His grace, get rid of them.
What things? Maybe it's a short temper that causes you to say angry or nasty things to people - especially those you love. Maybe it's impure thoughts that you dwell on from time to time. You have to look at yourself and figure out what they are for you.
That's why that aspiration I told you about a couple of posts back works so nicely in Advent: "Divine Infant of Bethlehem, come and take birth in our hearts." We want Jesus to take His rightful place in our hearts. To do that we need to clean house so that He can get in.
At work, the challenge can be harder. There's a natural rhythm and flow to the "business" of our work. It can easily seem impossible to carve out a moment or two for Jesus. Or even if we realize it's possible, the day can easily slip by before we know - and we haven't given Our Lord a thought.
Maybe you can resolve to say five or ten of our aspiration during the workday. Maybe you resolve to say five or ten right at the start of the day, or right before lunch. It breaks that "busy" pattern that keeps Jesus at arm's lengh all day. Who knows, maybe it's set up a better pattern. Maybe with this "breakthrough" Our Lord will find His way into your day more often. It's worth a shot.
Reminder: Advent is only about four weeks long. it'll shoot by before you know it. Stop right now and think of Him - of the little Christ Child, God Himself, humbling Himself, born in a manger, all because He loved us. If God could find the time, so you we.
I mentioned before, I try to say one of those little prayers for each year since Our Lord's birth in Bethlehem. So this year, that means saying 2009. It helps keep me "in" Advent no matter what's going on around me.
"Divine Infant of Bethlehem, come and take birth in our hearts."
We Catholics look forward and backward in Advent. We look forward to the Second Coming. Jesus will come again someday. We want to be prepared.
But Advent roots us firmly in the past - in the real event of 2,009 years ago: His birth in Bethlehem, celebrated on December 25th. We want to be prepared.
Most of us struggle to keep God on our minds and in our hearts during a busy work day. In Advent, we have the chance to renew our minds and hearts; we have the chance to make a fresh start in keeping Christ #1 not only "in our lives," but more specifically in each and every day we spend at work - no matter how busy we are, no matter how important the work.
A few weeks ago, we talked about St John Leonardi telling us to start every day anew in Christ. Advent is the perfect time to work on that, to wake up each day with the resolve to start with Christ, first and foremost.
It's also a time to rid ourselves of anything that keeps us from him. That's why it's a good idea to start Advent with confession. It's a good idea to think about those things that we put ahead of Christ and, with His grace, get rid of them.
What things? Maybe it's a short temper that causes you to say angry or nasty things to people - especially those you love. Maybe it's impure thoughts that you dwell on from time to time. You have to look at yourself and figure out what they are for you.
That's why that aspiration I told you about a couple of posts back works so nicely in Advent: "Divine Infant of Bethlehem, come and take birth in our hearts." We want Jesus to take His rightful place in our hearts. To do that we need to clean house so that He can get in.
At work, the challenge can be harder. There's a natural rhythm and flow to the "business" of our work. It can easily seem impossible to carve out a moment or two for Jesus. Or even if we realize it's possible, the day can easily slip by before we know - and we haven't given Our Lord a thought.
Maybe you can resolve to say five or ten of our aspiration during the workday. Maybe you resolve to say five or ten right at the start of the day, or right before lunch. It breaks that "busy" pattern that keeps Jesus at arm's lengh all day. Who knows, maybe it's set up a better pattern. Maybe with this "breakthrough" Our Lord will find His way into your day more often. It's worth a shot.
Reminder: Advent is only about four weeks long. it'll shoot by before you know it. Stop right now and think of Him - of the little Christ Child, God Himself, humbling Himself, born in a manger, all because He loved us. If God could find the time, so you we.
I mentioned before, I try to say one of those little prayers for each year since Our Lord's birth in Bethlehem. So this year, that means saying 2009. It helps keep me "in" Advent no matter what's going on around me.
"Divine Infant of Bethlehem, come and take birth in our hearts."
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