This Sunday we started Advent, the
four weeks before Christmas in which we prepare for the coming of the birth of
our Savior. The word Advent comes from
the Latin word meaning “coming.” What do
the next few weeks, between now and Christmas, look like for your family?
At Mass this weekend, we lit the
first candle on the Advent wreath. This
candle represents Hope, the hope of the coming of our Lord, the expectations of
the Savior coming to Earth to save us from our sins. What do you hope for, this Advent and
Christmas season?
I imagine many of us are in the
process of planning family Holiday get-togethers, shopping for the family
Christmas gifts, planning the family dinners, decorating the house in with
festive Christmas décor. We are making
our lists and checking them twice, wondering how we are going to get things
done, hoping to have the perfect gift idea and the time to get it purchased and
wrapped.
Advent is a time to wait, a time to
prepare the way of our Savior. In the
busyness of this Christmas season, take some time to prepare for the birth of
Christ. Spend some time as a family
praying together. When I was a child,
before our family meal, we lit the appropriate candles on the Advent
wreath. We would then enjoy our meal
together, without outside distractions, no television, no homework, no phone
calls. We would let the candle burn for
one hour, and would not leave the table until that hour was complete. It was a time of prayer, family discussions,
and a meal. It was the time in our day
to invite God to join our family. Week
one of Advent is about Hope. Maybe your
first meal this week could focus on Hope for our families, our Church, and our
World.
Wishing you all a great week one of
Advent!!
No comments:
Post a Comment