Today is the first Sunday of Advent and we now look towards the coming of the Messiah in the lowliness of a manger. Advent is a period of preparation for this celebration. It is necessary for it aids us in allowing our life to be directed towards the coming of the Messiah.
Pope Benedict XVI exclaimed that "forgetting about God is the most imminent danger of our age.” In other words people fail to direct their sight towards God, but rather they direct it inwardly upon themselves.
As the Book of Acts instructs: "In him we live and move and have our being." It is for this reason that we must stream towards this mountain which was spoken of by the Prophet Isaiah. This mountain is the Lord who comes to set us free from the burden of sin. We must allow ourself to be directed here and thus allow Him to be the one who animates our life.
Our Gospel recounts those who did not allow themselves to be directed unto the Lord. They were not found to be prepared for the Lord's coming. They are not the ones who according to Saint Paul have "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." We cannot allow ourself to be unwilling to set our sight upon Christ's coming and thus fall into the danger of forgetting about God.
People now decorate their homes for Christmas, Christmas music begins to play, presents will be bought and wrapped. All of this is fine, but we must ask how we will use this season which has been set aside by the Church to prepare ourself for the coming of the Lord. We cannot just wonder throughout this season and forget about the transformation that we must undergo if we are to "go rejoicing to the house of the Lord."
Make use of the Sacrament of Confession. Allow it to reorient your sight upon God. Make use of our Blessed Sacrament chapel. Allow it to reorient your sight upon Christ who comes to dwell among us in the Eucharist. Make use of an Advent wreath at home to direct your sight upon the Lord's coming. There is the tradition of the Joshua Tree which would be the perfect devotion for a family that can be used to teach children each day about figures from Sacred Scripture who play a role in the Lord's coming among us.
We have so much which fights for our attention. It is easy for us to forget about God's presence in our midst. Advent is the time to get away from this path and thus reorient our sight towards Him. Saint Paul instructs in his Letter to the Corinthians: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." Yes, we must do everything for the glory of God and yes this task is possible if we are willing to direct our sight towards Him.
There is no greater place for us to direct our sight towards Him and to give glory to Him, but here at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Here our prayers are gathered together and they are offered unto God. Therefore, you notice the crucifix of our Lord placed upon the altar. It has been placed there in order to remind us that everything that we do here is directed towards Christ. It reminds us that our worship here is directed towards God and is not directed towards man.
Let us therefore lift up our hearts in worship of the Lord. May we be willing to set our sight upon Him and thus put on Christ for ourself during this Advent season.
