LET ADVENT BE
We know the celebration will
come later, but let this moment - this Advent season - be a time of preparation
for that great day!
In today's Gospel from Matthew Jesus warns us
to "Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come"
(Mt 24:42). The finest and most challenging gift that we, as Catholics, can
give ourselves today is to postpone the season of twinkling lights and embrace
wholeheartedly the quiet time of Advent. It's the annual struggle to delay
gratification when the whole world seems to have plunged into the Christmas
season.
Most of us can remember how exciting it was as
a child to look forward to the great celebration. We can step into the world of
Isaiah and God's promises, the world of Mary overshadowed and overtaken by
grace, the world of John the Baptist who challenges people to
"Prepare!" We know the celebration will come later, but let this
moment - this Advent season - be a time of preparation for that great day!
We pray with the Psalmist on this first day of
Advent and in the quietness of our hearts. Pray for peace and remember that
love will prosper. And we share our tranquility with others when we say,
"Peace be within you" (Ps 122:8).
Let Advent Be!