Advent's Our Chance To Take Charge
Well, pretty much everyone in our neighborhood's got their lights and decorations up. Not that I'm complaining or anything. It's just that I know that they'll start coming down before New Year's Day!. Even more will be down before the Twelve Days of Christmas (ending on the feast of the Epiphany - January 6th) are over.
So what will happen is everyone will be pretty much "Christmased-out" by Christmas Day - certainly by the day after.
It's our time to take charge gents. It's time for us Catholic men to keep a good Christmas. So here's what I'm doing.
First, we'll start the Christmas Novena tonight. There are different variations of this out there. Whatever version you use, just remember it starts tonight, December 16th, and ends Christmas Eve. We found an older traditional version years ago, but I can't locate it on the Internet, otherwise I'd pass it on to you. But good old Google should work pretty well if you don't have a version you like. Just try one this year, if you haven't done this in the past.
If you're a father, you get to lead the Novena. If you don't normally say prayers before dead with the family, it's a good way to start now. It's good for you and good for the family that you do this. Never mind the graces you'll receive all around.
As for the controversy about whether or not you should be decorating now, or waiting until Christmas Eve, or whether listening to Christmas music now is somehow wrong - well, I've got to leave that up to you. We went through a period where we were a bit more strict about playing Christmas music - at least until the week or so before Christmas. But with our kids mostly grown up and out now, that's kind of slipped.
Still, it's good to somehow make Advent real in your daily routine. You know, prayer, penance, mortifications, special acts of charity. We once practiced "KK" - Kristkindel - when the kids were younger. That's where you pick a name (secretly) and do special things for that person - your Kristkindel - during Advent. It's fun - and charitable. (The Church has such great traditions!)
The point here is that we Catholic men need to be the one's to lead here. We can't just passively rely on our wives to make a good Advent or a good Christmas. And if you're not married, or you're still living with your family, you can still lend a hand in keeping Advent and Christmas holy for all.
There's a lot of talk about taking charge in the business world. Just think of all the "leadership" nonsense that either management or the consultant's they hire foist on us because - well, it's trendy, or they can't come up with any more concrete plans to make the business grow. Not that leadership isn't important. Some of that stuff isn't all bad. But a lot is just silly.
But taking charge when it comes to our spiritual life, helping our families make a good Advent and Christmas - these are well worth our time and effort. And you don't need some consultant to show the way. Just pray on it. Think about what you've been doing so far during Advent. If you've done nothing, there's still time. The important point is to take charge and lead the way.
The world's full of people who want to "be in charge." The reality, however, is that not everyone can lead. Any effort needs leaders and those who follow. It's just a fact. When it comes to our Faith - and to how we observe Advent and Christmas - we all have the same Leader - Christ. So us men need to be kind of like his captains. And to the extent we have responsibility for others - especially our families - it's at times like Advent and Christmas that our leadership skills are put to the test.
So take charge and lead the troops through the next week or so right up to the manger in Bethlehem, gents. Our Lord and our families are relying on us.
So what will happen is everyone will be pretty much "Christmased-out" by Christmas Day - certainly by the day after.
It's our time to take charge gents. It's time for us Catholic men to keep a good Christmas. So here's what I'm doing.
First, we'll start the Christmas Novena tonight. There are different variations of this out there. Whatever version you use, just remember it starts tonight, December 16th, and ends Christmas Eve. We found an older traditional version years ago, but I can't locate it on the Internet, otherwise I'd pass it on to you. But good old Google should work pretty well if you don't have a version you like. Just try one this year, if you haven't done this in the past.
If you're a father, you get to lead the Novena. If you don't normally say prayers before dead with the family, it's a good way to start now. It's good for you and good for the family that you do this. Never mind the graces you'll receive all around.
As for the controversy about whether or not you should be decorating now, or waiting until Christmas Eve, or whether listening to Christmas music now is somehow wrong - well, I've got to leave that up to you. We went through a period where we were a bit more strict about playing Christmas music - at least until the week or so before Christmas. But with our kids mostly grown up and out now, that's kind of slipped.
Still, it's good to somehow make Advent real in your daily routine. You know, prayer, penance, mortifications, special acts of charity. We once practiced "KK" - Kristkindel - when the kids were younger. That's where you pick a name (secretly) and do special things for that person - your Kristkindel - during Advent. It's fun - and charitable. (The Church has such great traditions!)
The point here is that we Catholic men need to be the one's to lead here. We can't just passively rely on our wives to make a good Advent or a good Christmas. And if you're not married, or you're still living with your family, you can still lend a hand in keeping Advent and Christmas holy for all.
There's a lot of talk about taking charge in the business world. Just think of all the "leadership" nonsense that either management or the consultant's they hire foist on us because - well, it's trendy, or they can't come up with any more concrete plans to make the business grow. Not that leadership isn't important. Some of that stuff isn't all bad. But a lot is just silly.
But taking charge when it comes to our spiritual life, helping our families make a good Advent and Christmas - these are well worth our time and effort. And you don't need some consultant to show the way. Just pray on it. Think about what you've been doing so far during Advent. If you've done nothing, there's still time. The important point is to take charge and lead the way.
The world's full of people who want to "be in charge." The reality, however, is that not everyone can lead. Any effort needs leaders and those who follow. It's just a fact. When it comes to our Faith - and to how we observe Advent and Christmas - we all have the same Leader - Christ. So us men need to be kind of like his captains. And to the extent we have responsibility for others - especially our families - it's at times like Advent and Christmas that our leadership skills are put to the test.
So take charge and lead the troops through the next week or so right up to the manger in Bethlehem, gents. Our Lord and our families are relying on us.
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