ADVENT 2012
This is the season of advent. A time of anticipation of something --- a waiting. A time of preparation and a time to strengthen our relationships and deepen our commitment in our Spiritual journey. It is a season of opening doors so that the Divine can shine through us offering a welcome to others ---- like a neon sign on our hearts that says, "Please, come in!"
This is what Advent is about --- a season of opening doors of ourselves. Advent invites us to listen and be attentive, to be ready for the knock on the door, the doorbell ringing and to embrace every visitor more fully, meeting God every time we open a door.
This is a time for us to reflect on the darkness and trials of this world in the light of our hope in Christ.
Advent is not just a simple memorial of a past event, to bring us up to Christmas day and leave us there. It's purpose is to point the faithful towards a future event --- Christ's second glorious coming.
Throughout the month of December is a season to read from the Old and the New Testament about the Lord's second coming. The readings will remind us that our lives now should be lived in light of eternity and not in keeping with the current standards.
"Brothers and sisters: You know the time, it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and lust, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh." ---- Romans 13:11-14
In Paul's words, he tells us to awaken from a deep sleep. We are not to simply wait for Christ to show up, but we need to prepare beforehand. We need to seek God's grace now to help us eliminate sin from our lives.
This is where the hard work of Advent comes in. It requires an examination of conscience. It's a time to reflect on the areas where we lack or on the recurring sins in our lives, and to seek God's grace to help us to change.
All good things in life require preparation. And God, in His mercy, has given us the gift of time to prepare for His arrival, which no doubet, will be the most important event we will ever experience.
Further reading:
Matthew 3:1-2
Psalm 139:23-24
I encourage you... take time this week to reflect on the joy of Jesus' first arrival and then, GOD-fident in His love for you, ask God to reveal to you the ways in which you need to prepare your heart to meet Him on Christmas day.
adapted from resources on Faith, Family and Fun at Crosswalk.com
God bless you all and I pray everyone will have an awaking journey this Advent season.
~One Love~