My Dear Friends:
Advent is a season of great expectations. From the moment Thanksgiving ends, sometimes sooner, we start making all these grand plans for Christmas that we cannot possibly accomplish. Of course, these plans are material or secular and will not lead us any closer to Christ. This is why we began a spiritual journey last Sunday when Advent began to concentrate on what is truly important during this blessed season. I once read a quote from priest I befriended on social media that read: “Our beloved Church “shocks” us with the scandal of the color violet while the rest of the world clothes itself in red and gold so that, on the final day, we will not be shocked to find ourselves dressed in something less glorious than God’s own light and love.” We spend way too much time worried about the material aspects of this season to the point that it stresses most people out. I see so many frustrated faces during what should be the most joyous time of year. The “hustle and bustle” of this season should bring joy and not stress.
So how should we approach this season of Advent? I was exchanging texts with a priest friend of mine and he sent me another great quote: “If we do not pray with the graces which Advent offers in the experiences of emptiness, then, I am afraid, Christmas will be a celebration of disappointing emptiness.” And that’s why so many people stress out during these holy days. Their eyes are fixed on what is not important. Today we have the opportunity to empty our hearts of all things that are not of Christ; to fix our eyes on him and not get distracted by all the secular trappings of this season. Look at our altar. All you see is a purple cloth on the altar and then the Advent wreath. That’s it! (Someone did ask me last week why our altar was so bare compared with everything being decorated outside these walls.) We begin this journey towards Christmas with our altar reflecting where our hearts should be at: preparing to be filled by Christ. Slowly but surely the Advent wreath will get brighter and the altar will get more festive as we approach the coming of our Lord. But we must begin with empty hearts, humble hearts, contrite hearts that will be receptive to the light of Christ. If our hearts are already filled with unnecessary distractions then we will feel emptiness this Christmas much like a child who didn’t get everything he or she wanted for Christmas.
So with expectant hearts we approach this altar as we implore our God to fill our hearts with the joy of this season. Let us adopt the attitude of our Blessed Mother whose Immaculate Conception we celebrate tomorrow: an attitude of joy-filled anticipation and docility to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. May our eyes be fixed on what is essential: the coming of the Christ child. Only then will we be able to truly rejoice this Christmas and celebrate with hearts full of light and love.
God Bless You All!