Advent Reflection

Wow this week has been so busy. All the teachers want to squeeze tests and projects in before Christmas break. Life can get so stressful at times.

I don't know what I'd do if it wasn't Advent. Don't get me wrong, I love ordinary time, but that big green wedge on the liturgical calendar gets very, very long.

Advent is always something I look forward to. Lighting the wreath. All the "holiday cheer" (the real stuff, that actually means something, not that nonsense commercialism tries to sell us). At my house we have decorations everywhere, and my favorite of all is our nativity scene. It's that brand that has all those angel statues- I don't know the name, but it's beautiful. It's a constant reminder of what CHRISTmas is really about. Hmm, what could that be?

Most of my life the weeks before Christmas have been about the food and presents. I was so materialistic and selfish. It's the truth. When you don't know God yet, that's what happens.
But now that I know better, I know that I should get as much out of Advent as I can. This year, that means striving to have a constantly new personal encounter with Christ each day. It's so easy to let out guard down and fall asleep. Sometimes I even subconsciously forget that God loves me and that I should love Him back. So far, Advent has been trying to become holier and holier every day. I definitely haven't succeeded all the time. I've had bad days, but I've also had really good days. By the end of the season, I know that I will be holy and ready to recieve out infant Lord with joy..

In theology class the other day we were reflecting on the daily reading, which was (like usual during this time of year) about Christ coming and being ready and watching. It can be tempting to assume that it's all about doomsday and judgement, like Jesus wants to catch us off guard and punish is for however we've failed Him lately. But it's not.

Yes, Advent is about preparing, but it's not about preparing for the day when all our sins are going to come back to haunt us. Advent is about preparing for the birth of a baby- the baby who was destined to surrender Himself in love for us. And our Lord will come in glory not to punish us, but to fully unite ourselves to Him.
Then, nothing else will matter.
This is what I'm thinking of this Advent.

Wow if you've read all this, God bless you!

Love,
A Catholic Teen