1st Sunday of Advent 2017 - Preparing well for Christ's coming

The most important things in life require some preparation. When parents discover they are expecting a new child, they prepare a room for the child, a crib, the room is decorated, clothes are purchased, a baby shower is thrown. When a couple becomes engaged for marriage, they prepare, they plan. They meet with the priest for marriage preparation, they attend a pre-cana day, the reception is planned, the wedding garments are acquired, a home is made ready.

Similarly, when a young man realizes his call to the priesthood, his seminary formation involves nine years of college, experience in different ministerial settings like visiting the sick in hospitals and nursing homes, visiting the imprisoned, learning how to craft a homily, teach in the classroom, and celebrate the sacraments.

Even our young ones know about preparing for important events. Our second graders celebrated their First Confession two weeks ago. Before the big day, they learned about sin and about the mercy Jesus extends to us in the Sacrament of Confession; they learned their act of contrition, and the need to do penance for their sins.

Over the next few months, they will prepare for their First Holy Communion by learning about how Jesus gave to His Church the Sacrament of His Body and Blood, teaching that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood shall have eternal life and will be raised on the last day.

We prepare for new jobs, a new driver’s license, new babies, new vocations. Jesus in the Gospel teaches very clearly that we are to prepare for his second coming. For his glorious return and for the end of our earthly lives we prepare for eternity by confessing our sins and conforming our minds and hearts to his. And for that hour “you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming.” You even get the impression from his words, that many will be unprepared, and this is very foolish.

For the most important things we undertake preparation. And I’d venture to say that the more important the event, the longer and more serious the preparation. So, it makes sense that the two most important feasts of the Church year, Christmas and Easter, are each preceded by entire liturgical seasons of preparation. The season of Lent, with its penances, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, helps us to prepare for Easter, the celebration of Our Lord’s Victory over Sin and Death.

And now we begin the great season of Advent, which helps us to prepare for the feast of the saving birth of Our Lord at Christmas. Even the Scripture readings on this 1st Sunday of Advent help us to take seriously the need to prepare well for Christmas: “"Be watchful! Be alert!... May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.”

Being found sleeping, like the unwise Virgins in the Gospel a few weeks ago, is certainly one of the dangers of this time of year: to get so caught up in the commercialization, the food, the decorations, the secular, that we are inattentive to the greater spiritual and religious dimension—the reason for the season, as they say.

So, in order to keep Christ in Christmas, we need to be serious about our Advent preparations. And so what are some of the tried and true practices of preparing well, spiritually, during Advent?

Well, the liturgy of Advent certainly gives us some hints. The major liturgical symbol of Advent is, of course, the Advent wreath. Each family does well to have an Advent wreath in the home, perhaps as the centerpiece of the dinner table, or perhaps on a small altar in the family room.

The family Advent wreath can help the family remain spiritually focused during Advent. The circular wreath reminds us of God’s eternal love who sends his only Son to be our redeemer. The evergreen of the wreath reminds us of the everlasting life we receive only through the birth of our Savior. The light of the candles represent the light of Christ, who entered this world to scatter the darkness of evil and show us the way of righteousness. The progression of lighting candles shows our increasing readiness to meet Our Lord.

So don’t be afraid to light the candles of the wreath: I suggest lighting them at dinner time, along with a special advent prayer or reading of Scripture along with your grace before meals. If the family is so busy that you don’t have time for family dinner together, which is lamentable, perhaps take ten minutes before bedtime to say some prayers at the Advent wreath together.

The candle is also a wonderful symbol for Christian prayer. As the candle burns, it burns in silence, yet its flame is powerful, giving off heat and warmth; even the smallest flame burns and purifies. The candle reminds us the power and importance of increased prayer during this season.
Individually, I recommend prayerfully reading the scripture from daily Mass every day. Prayerfully read through and meditate on these readings; ask God what lessons they contain for living the Christian faith well and preparing well for Christmas. The daily Scripture readings are listed in the bulletin and can also be found on the US Bishops website.

Also, consider attending daily Mass, if but one additional time per week, or even one additional time per month! You will discover great peace and strength which flows from attending Mass daily.
The second lesson from our Advent liturgy is that we are now shrouded and vested in purple. Purple is the color a priest wears when he hears confession. Purple is the color of penance.

So, if it’s been more than a few months, plan on making a good Sacramental Confession either on Saturday or at our parish’s Advent Penance service this season. Parents, give your children the great gift of seeing you go to confession. The memory of seeing my mother go into the confessional ahead of me is burned indelibly in my mind. Also, if there is a family member who hasn’t been to confession in a while, invite them to come with you. It could be as simple as “Hey, I’m going up to the Church for confession, do you want to come?”

Before going to confession make a proper examination of conscience. There is even an app for that. Or feel free to write down your sins and bring the list into the confessional if that will aid you.
Penitential purple also reminds us to detach from earthly things in order to focus on heavenly ones. Perhaps this season you can clean out a chest or closet of clothes or toys and donate them to charity. If there is a neighbor you haven’t talked to in several months or someone new to the neighborhood, give them a tin of cookies, not because they are Catholic but because you are.

Prepare to celebrate Christmas by putting your faith first this Advent. By striving to live in the presence of Christ, with the mind and heart of Christ this Advent, you will prepare room for him to dwell in you this Christmas, for the glory of God and salvation.