Weekly Reflection 12/1/19

REFLECTION

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

November 3-December 1, 2019

 “The Season of Advent”

      t’s beginning to look a lot like Advent! Gone are the colorful decorations and green vestments of Ordinary Time. They have been replaced by the muted decorations of winter and vestments of purple. This four week season is the first of the liturgical year. It is a time of expectation, waiting and anticipation. While it is associated with Christmas, it is a time that is completely separate from the Christmas season which follows.

     As a church and as individuals, we prepare for Jesus; as a newborn in Bethlehem, in our present lives and in glory at the end of time. We ready ourselves through prayer, good works and penance.

     Prayer – Participate in ‘The Best Advent Ever’ daily email program. This free program is obtained by simply signing up on the Dynamic Catholic website. You will receive a scripture passage and meditative thought each day of Advent. Directions on how to sign up are in the Bulletin, on the parish website and in the handout in the Narthex.

      The ‘Little Blue Book’ for Advent also has a bible passage and thought for every day of the season. These booklets can be found in the Narthex and are available in English, Spanish and there is even a children’s version.

       Good Works – Participate in the clothing and/or toy drive. Take a casserole pan on the first Sunday of the month, prepare the recipe found inside of the pan and return it on the following Sunday of the month to help feed the needy at Our Daily Bread. Donate non-perishable food items to our Outreach collection bin located in the Narthex. Instead of “over gifting”, put that money in the Poor Box.

       At home, place an Advent Wreath in a place of prominence and have a weekly wreath lighting service. Celebrate the feast days of St. Nicholas and St. Lucia. Put out your nativity set without figurines and place a piece of straw in the manger for each time you perform a good deed. An “Advent Traditions” handout is available in the Narthex.

       Penance – Participate in our parish Penance Service on December 17 from 7 to 8 p.m.

        Let us use this season as a time to reconcile with estranged family or friends. Let us learn to appreciate the wonder of Advent as we wait with patient anticipation for the coming of our Emmanuel (“God is with us.”) If we do, it will look a lot like Advent everywhere we go!                                             

                                                                                                                                                                            Patrick J. Perkins