In two weeks we will find ourself in the midst of the Advent season. Advent prepares us for the coming of the Christ and thus we use this season to orient ourself back towards Him.
Our world is a busy place and there is a lot for us to get caught up with. It is easy to allow our emotions go rampant while forgetting that God is the one who is in control. Therefore we must allow ourself to be oriented back towards Christ. We must allow our heart to dwell with Him always!
Therefore on Thursday we will have the opportunity to direct our heart towards Him and His infinite mercy. On this evening our parish will hold its Advent penance service. Through our sin we turn ourself away from Him, but through this sacrament of our Lord's mercy we allow ourself to be oriented back towards Him. There is no sin which is too big to be forgiven, but we must be willing to hand it over to Christ instead of continuing to latch onto it.
Next Sunday on the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King we will receive a subtle reminder of our need to be reoriented towards Christ. On this day our Perpetual Adoration Committee will hold an open house of our Adoration Chapel. This will be done as a reminder that we can never allow our life to be found too busy to redirect ourself towards Christ.
Christ continues to call out to each of us from the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar and thus calls us to direct our sight towards Him. The Eucharist is not just a mere symbol, but it truly is Jesus Christ who dwells with us here out of love. Other faith traditions may have the symbol of the Eucharist, but it is simply that; just a symbol. What we have been blessed with is Christ who continues to dwell with us here in the form of bread and wine. If we profess this to be Christ and thus the fullness of truth how could we not allow our heart be humbled in His midst?
Therefore, seeing that this is Christ who dwells with us here surely we would first want our heart to be humbled through the Sacrament of Confession before we defile our Lord and Savior with our sinful heart. Let us orient ourself towards the Lord and thus humble ourself in His midst!
Our Perpetual Adoration Chapel serves as a further invitation to humble ourself in the midst of Christ. It is always open and thus Christ continues to call us out to us from the busyness of this world and thus into the solitude of His Sacred Heart. Some stay here in this humble abode for an hour, some for half an hour, but even a brief visit for a couple of minutes brings so much value into one's life. Make the sacrifice of your time by coming into the chapel, bring your children and family, together come and let us adore our Lord as we orient ourself back towards Him.
Soon we will be preparing ourself for Christmas and thus the great gift that will be brought into the world on that day. The gift of Christ our Lord born in the lowliness of a manger. Let us orient our sight towards Him and thus away from our sin, our fears, and the busyness of our life. We now gather here at this Mass and our sight is not directed towards the priest nor the laity, but towards Christ. Together let us orient our sight towards Him as we continually invite Him to dwell in our midst under the form of bread and wine.
