The most awaited period of the year is Christmas but it is preceded by a season called “Advent” which means “coming of the Lord”. During this season we prepare not materially but spiritually. We allow ourselves to accept the Lord Jesus to be born in our lives and hearts. It is a sacred time for the Church in which we reflect on our faith and relationship with our Lord, examine our communion with the generous God, and with our people around us so that we can celebrate Christmas in a worthy and fitting manner.
During four Sundays of advent, we could make some meaningful sacrifices, almsgiving, and prayer, which could be directed towards the victims of COVID-19. This act and gesture will definitely help us to grow in our spiritual and prayer life and understand the sufferings of the people.
Another beautiful preparation we could undertake is to be available and present with our dear and near ones, neighbors, those who are abandoned and forgotten by everyone. We could give ourselves, like our time, smile, pat, embrace, encouraging word, guidance, direction, sharing our experience. This giving of ourselves demands sacrifices and can be only done in the spirit of communion and solidarity. During this pandemic, one might say that we have spent enough and more time with our family members, there is no need to do that again. It is a wrong attitude. Did we really give ourselves, our understanding, love, mercy and compassion? Were we really generous in supporting and helping others, did we rediscover our lost connection with God through prayers, and did we really do something for Jesus? Advent offers us the chance and opportunity to do the above. When we do all that the Lord commands we will find Advent more meaningful and significant which leads us to find a new meaning in life.
Let us decorate not advent wreaths and Christmas trees, but the wreaths of our relationships and trees of family members and others. This decoration could be spending time in listening to one another, listening to the Word of God, and spending more time decorating our human life which has taken a low beating without sinful acts.
We will be busy in buying many things for the celebration of Christmas, why not buy some reading material for our family. It could be books, CD’s, etc which can increase our faith in the Incarnation of the Lord. We could teach our family members to share something with our non-Christian neighbors that will lift up their spirits.
There are many associations in the parishes who do yeomen’s service to humanity, who are creative in their service to the people of all class and creed, why not get creative with them by volunteering or donating? Donating need not only money but other essential things to run their homes. The Lord has been always inspiring generous souls to get closed to people to offer selfless service to the needy.
During this advent let us teach our children to sacrifice and donate some of their things which are in good condition or they don’t use anymore. Ask them to be creatively generous and make those children who never get to see some of those things which our children have and don’t use any longer. It will be a memorable Advent and Christmas for our children who will be givers and not only takers.
Advent is a season which is fruitful, there is birth, growth, new life, there is joy and peace, something is happening that changes the face of the earth. Advent is a time of waiting which teaches us to be actively patient, rather than passive. It teaches us to be patient because God works in our moments of darkness and failures. He lifts up our drooping spirits with spiritual renewal.
No comments:
Post a Comment