Let us focus on having a great finish to Advent

December 13, 2023

By PAT ARENSBERG

I know it is still a few days away, but Merry Christmas ( a bit early)! I am sure that we are all very busy with so many details. Christmas is a joyful and wonderful season, but it is also a time of great stress for many. There is so much shopping to do, both for the ingredients of our favorite Christmas treats and of course thoughtful gifts for loved ones.
In the midst of all of this, let’s try to have a great finish to Advent. As we approach the great feast of the birth of the Lord let us try to prepare our hearts to love Him. It is so easy for us to allow our hearts to become attached to things that God has created. These things are all around us and we are attracted to them. A significant part of Advent is intentionally detaching ourselves from these goods so that we are free to attach ourselves more perfectly to the ultimate Good.
How do we do that? Well, we can start by spending some time with Him. The good news is that He is always with us. All we have to do is direct our minds and hearts to Him. Be mindful of the fact that He is near and that He created each of us. If your circumstances allow, go visit Him in a church where He is waiting in the reserved Blessed Sacrament. A poor peasant who was a parishioner of St. John Vianney spent a great deal of time before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. When asked what the man said or thought during his pray time, the poor man replied, “I look at Him and He looks at me.”
Wow, I wish I could pray like that! Maybe each of us can make our hearts a little more in tune with Him so that we can gaze on Him and be content. Merry Christmas.
— Pat Arensberg is the Director of the Office for Evangelization and Family Life. Email him at [email protected]
For more information concerning the events of this office, visit us at mobilefaithformation.org