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 and a crib; the room is decorated, clothes are purchased. 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 theological training, 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.
We prepare for big tests, big presentations, we prepare emotionally to share difficult news, we prepare our wills for the end of our lives.
What we do here in Church—our religious worship and our religious formation—prepares us—for living the Gospel in the world, and also, it prepares us for eternity.
The liturgical season of Advent is an entire season of preparation—a season of preparation for Christmas and also for the Lord’s final advent at the end of time, or to meet our judge and king at the end of our earthly lives, whatever comes first.
There is an old joke about preparing for the Lord’s coming: “The Pope is working in his office in Rome, and a cardinal rushes in. "Holy Father! Holy Father! Christ has come back to Earth and he is riding up to the Vatican on a donkey. Whatever shall we do?" The Pope thinks for a moment and says: "Look busy."
Part of our Advent preparations is not just to “look busy” of course, but to “get busy”.
In the first reading we hear Isaiah praying for Israel, that on the day of the Lord’s coming God might find his people “doing what is right”. “Would that you might meet us doing right” We are rightly prepared for the Lord’s coming when we are busy doing what is right and just and good and true and holy.
The Gospel too contained a parable about preparedness. A rich man “leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work”. God has given all of us work to do—primarily in building up the kingdom of God. We are to be on our guard so that when he returns, he doesn’t find us, “sleeping on the job.”
Now we know how Advent can be a time of great busy-ness—especially in preparation for Christmas—decorating, shopping, the planning of parties and gatherings, the baking of Christmas cookies—decking the halls with boughs of holly—trimming the hearth and setting the table—and whatnot.
Our task is not just to look busy, or simply to be busy about earthly matters. Rather we are to get busy “doing what is right”—what is righteous—what is holy—what is necessary for our spiritual life, for our eternal souls.
The most important thing we are to do—the most important work—is repentance of sin. If we have unconfessed mortal sins, we are not prepared to meet God. This is the time of year to pick up a good examination of conscience. If you have any unconfessed mortal sins, go to confession as soon as possible. Also, if it’s been more than a year since your last confession, clean the house of your soul to prepare for the coming of Christ.
Our second Advent work about which we are to be busy about is prayer. Prayer, meditation on the scriptures, quiet contemplation is the work, is the preparation we are tasked with during Advent. Schedule extra time every day for extra prayer. You might even need to set a daily reminder in your calendar. Begin each day with prayer: Lord help me to be diligent in prayer today—watchful for your coming.” The importance of prayer cannot be stressed enough. Without prayer, our hearts are not focused on Christ, who is the reason for the season. Praying the Liturgy of the Hours in addition to coming to weekday Mass, is a wonderful way to remain in tune with the Church’s liturgical prayer.
Our Third Advent job is of course, charity—works of charity are to abound during Advent. We are to show care for the less fortunate, the downtrodden, the poor and afflicted—to practice generosity. Consider doing something this Advent that’s more generous than you’ve ever done before. How could you change someone’s life for the better, if you tried?
We will never being busy with the work God has for us—of being as generous as we can with our time, talent, and treasure. What will we likely regret? Sleeping on the job. Being so busy with earthly things and worldly distractions that we neglect our souls and the people we could have helped if we were less focused on ourselves.
Advent is here. Let’s get to work. For the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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