Advent

Today we begin a new year in the church. Today is the start of Advent. Advent from the Latin means a coming, an arrival. Today’s Gospel tells us to prepare, be aware, and be alert for a coming. We are embarking on a wonderful 40 day journey that takes us from Advent to the Epiphany. The early Christians would spend time fasting in preparation during Advent much like they did for the 40 days that constituted the Lenten season.

As we prepare for the coming of the Prince of Peace, the birth of Jesus, many of us are too busy preparing for Santa Claus and miss the entire meaning of this wonderful season.
Too many people get stressed out in preparation for the holidays. Hold off on the holidays a bit and try to find a moment each day that you can spend reflecting on what is going on around you. Maybe you can reach out to someone that has no family and brighten their day with a visit or phone call.

Take a moment each day to spend in prayer. Prayer does not have to be structured; the Lord wants to hear your own words. If you can’t think of anything you can at least give thanks for what you have been blessed with. Pray for peace, pray for all that have lost loved ones and have been displaced by all the catastrophic events that have occurred during the past year.
If you can’t do anything, at least make some time for yourself, especially if you are a caretaker. If you are stressed, many around you will become stressed.

Simplify your life and let God handle what you can’t and you’ll have a wonderful Advent.