We are constantly preparing ourselves for something. The season of Advent is about preparing ourselves for the coming of the word made flesh. In this season we are called upon to prepare our hearts for the great joy that will come into the world on Christmas Day. In the days leading up to Christmas we sometimes forget this proper preparation for Christ's coming because we have already started to celebrate the season of Christmas early. We instead have prepared ourselves only through decorating the house, filling out Christmas cards (hopefully from the Knights of Columbus), organizing Christmas parties, and endless shopping for gifts (hopefully done with our school's gift cards). Despite this our Mass and liturgy during this period displays to us our true longing to prepare for Christ's coming. We see this through the decoration of our Church and within the tone of the music that we hear, especially that which we don't hear in the form of the Gloria. As the Church scales back these things we are reminded of our own need to be prepared for Christ's coming into the world.
For many the great solemnity of Black Friday was celebrated for some reason this year on Thursday instead of Friday. I guess this celebration has become so special that it now deserves its own vigil. I know that one is able to put a lot of preparation into this event; especially if they want to be successful. There are magazines to go through to discover the sales that interest you and then you can research maps of where your beloved items will be found within the store. Without proper preparation you might survive the floods of people alive, but with nothing in your possession. And if that was the case what would be the point? For some reason we are willing to put so much preparation and emphasis into such events, but are unwilling to do the same for our faith. Of course these events and possessions give us instant results that we can see while faith is something that must be worked at and cannot be seen and obtained in the same manner. All of us have a longing inside to find joy, we will not find it in possessions, but instead with Christ.
Our Holy Father, Francis, recently released his apostolic exhortation which is entitled Evangelii Guadium, the Joy of the Gospel. In the introduction he writes concerning our disordered preparation that we do at the cost of our relationship with Christ and with each other. In it he writes: "The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades. This is a very real danger for believers too. Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God’s will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ."
Throughout this exhortation, Francis, is showing his concern that all of us will find the joy of Christ in our life and in return will be willing to share this joy with the world by bringing forth the new evangelization. Advent is the perfect time to begin to make room for Christ in our hearts, so that when he arrives we will not be caught off guard, but instead allow room to be found within the inn of our own hearts. Our Gospel today reminds us of the importance of this preparation that we must always have in our hearts for Christ. From the start we are reminded of the great flood and how it was from an ark that people were given freedom from all the rough water that would ensue. For all of us we to have been extended our own protection from the flood of sin and fear in the form of the Church. Christ has given the Church to us as a gift that will constantly console us and in return lead us back to the joy of Christ. As long as we find ourselves upon this ark, that is the Church, we will be prepared for that hour we do not expect.
Our Gospel gives us the image that the rich and the poor will both have to answer for their lives. "One will be taken and one will be left." Instead of having to fear this just judgement we should follow after the words of the Prophet Isaiah in the reality that we should be drawn entirely towards Christ and towards His truth. Through the reality that we have been baptized we have put on our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we must stay under the protection of the ark that is the Church and in return lead others to the joy that is found here. When we place ourselves under the protection of the passing world we will always be left exposed to the many trials and tribulations that can sweep us away from our relationship with Christ. As this Advent season commences may we allow ourselves to find ways to truly begin to prepare ourselves for God taking on human flesh. In taking this proper preparation we should find ways to be drawn closer to the Eucharist maybe through Eucharistic adoration, ways to be drawn closer to our Blessed Mother maybe through the praying of the Holy Rosary, ways to realize our own sin and to ask for forgiveness through Confession and a daily Examination of Conscience, ways to serve the poor in our community maybe through Saint Joseph's Food Bank, and ways to continue our own education inside of the faith maybe through a class or a good book concerning the faith.
No matter what we choose to do with this season of Advent may we not allow it to pass us by without proper preparation. Instead may we fully come to prepare ourselves for Christ's coming into the world; that we may rejoice in the house of the Lord for all time.
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