As I am writing this reflection a few days before our celebration of Thanksgiving, I was reading an article about how busy the travel season will be this year, with many people traveling over the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, a big change from this time last year when we were at a surge in the pandemic. With prices increasing on food, gas, and just about everything else, with many of the shelves at the stores being empty of things we want to buy, it is easy to focus on our busy lives, the stress the pandemic, and the current reality. Yes, there are so many things to do this time of the year. But it is important that we focus on what is truly important this time of the year. Advent is an important time of preparation for us. While we already see Christmas decorations put up everywhere, while we are busy sending out Christmas cards and buying presents for our friends and loved ones, while we are already attending holiday gatherings at school, at work, and with our friends, are we making time to focus on the presence of God in our lives?
There are actually three comings of Jesus that we can reflect upon during the season of Advent. We prepare for the coming of Jesus as a tiny baby in the manger in Bethlehem, which we celebrate on Christmas at the conclusion of our Advent season. We also ask Jesus to come into our lives and into our hearts in a special way during Advent, asking him to be our Lord and Savior. Finally, we prepare each day on our journey of faith for Jesus’ return in the end times, when Jesus will come again.
At the Masses this weekend, we are handing out the Little Blue Book of reflections which we can use in this season of preparation. We will have Masses each day during the Advent season, which you can attend in-person or streaming on our Facebook page. Reflecting on the daily Mass readings is also a wonderful Advent devotion. In addition, this Monday, November 29 at 6:00 pm, we will have our Advent reconciliation with Bishop Kopacz and Monsignor Michael Flannery. The sacrament of reconciliation is a wonderful part of our Advent preparations. If you are unable to attend Monday evening, you can come on Saturday evenings when we offer that sacrament or you can make an appointment. My prayer is that Advent be a fruitful time of preparation for all of us, as we preparing for the coming of the Lord.
Blessings to all of you - Father Lincoln.
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