Have a blesses advent season!

Merry Christmas!!! Or should I say " have a blessed advent"

We begin the Christmas Season, Advent. One of my favorite times of the year.
I love the two fold message, remembering the first coming of Christ and remembering that He will come again. Lots of prayers and readings, discussions and homilies on what it all means. Helps to keep us focused on the real meaning of the season.

This year we have a long advent season.  Because Christmas is on Sat., we get a full week for the last week of advent. 

What traditions does your family have for this season? Do you light an advent candle on Sundays? If you don't, this is a good year to start. You simply need 4 candles, 3 red and 1 pink. Just google advent prayers and you will find lots to choose from. Light one candle every Sunday. The pink one is lit second to last. It is a reminder that we are almost there. This is a great way to refocus on the season.

We remember John the Baptist, who preached repentance and preparing the way, up to his death. We remember that Christ will come like a thief in the night, we won't know when. We should always be ready. We hear of Mary's visit by the angel and her saying "yes" to the will of God. We hear of Joseph's angel visit and his saying "yes". Are we ready to say " yes, Lord, I hear you calling in the night". 

As the stores and the media puts all this pressure on us to buy the perfect gifts or have the best of this or that. That Christmas is about shopping, parties and eating,  advent can help us remember that these are just outward signs of our true joy in Christ. I do enjoy shopping and gifts and socializing, but I try to not get caught up in it and lose focus.

For me and other Catholics, maybe others too, Christmas doesn't end on Christmas day. That is the beginning of the Christmas season. Through mid January, we continue to talk about Christ's coming at the Nativity until His Baptism and the beginning of His public ministry. What a great time!

"Have a blesses advent, may Joy of the season be with you and yours!"