Editorial

Let us prepare our hearts this Advent for the birth of Jesus

Vigilance, which is defined as “keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties,” is a word we become familiar with during Advent.

But as Catholics, being viligant in Advent can be defined as a time of deliberate preparation, to be watchful and attentive in a spiritual sense, anticipating the arrival of Jesus with loving anticipation instead of fear.

Pope Benedict XVI said as much in December 2012 while praying the Angelus.

The pontiff said that the community of believers is “a sign of the love of God, his justice that is present in the history but that is not yet fully realized, and that we therefore must always be waiting and seeking it with courage and patience.”

It is a time to make room for Jesus and not become distracted by trivial things.

As we recently ended a liturgical year and began another liturgical year with Advent, we could argue trivial matters were present on social media, the airwaves and everywhere we turned, helping us to become distracted as we approached this holy time of year.

But the seeds of distraction were planted long before then.

The message our secularist society continues to send us each year is crystal-clear: Let’s zip through Halloween and barely clean our plates from our Thanksgiving gathering, hit the stores and the “can’t miss” sales on Black Friday, and jump into online shopping on Cyber Monday.

As Catholics, something tells us things should be different—much different—than the way this time of year is portrayed. We know there are much more important things than shopping, whether it be in stores or online. The noise and impatience caused by the holiday chaos, we believe, fails to assist us in our spiritual lives as we prepare for Christ’s birth.

Now that December and a new Church year are upon us, we need to remember Advent invites us to prepare our hearts for Jesus by staying awake and paying attention to the things that matter most.

This season calls us to a renewed sense of wonder, beauty and peace. It is what we long for—the truth of our existence revealed in the most unremarkable way, the birth of a little child, the most vulnerable and innocent of all God’s creatures.

As we continue our Advent journey and prepare for Christmas, let us, as St. John Paul II said, “start afresh from Christ” by building on our lives of faith.

Find the grace to detach from bad habits. Let go of small sins you know are wrong.

Silence, we believe, must be an integral part of Advent, too. Why not cut out some of the things that make noise? It could be social media, podcasts, TV, radio or even unneccesary conversations.

In that spirit of silence, why not visit a parish that has perpetual eucharistic adoration or regular times for adoration and spend time in the presence of our Lord?

In an Advent reflection offered a few years ago, Bishop Robert E. Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minn., said eucharistic adoration “is a particularly rich form of spiritual waiting.”

He continued, “As you keep vigil before the Blessed Sacrament, bring to Christ some problem or dilemma that you have been fretting over, and then say: ‘Lord, I’m waiting for you to solve this, to show me the way out, the way forward. I’ve been running, planning, worrying, but now I’m going to let you work.’ Then, throughout Advent, watch attentively for signs.”

Spiritual reading could be a wonderful practice to add to your daily Advent plans. Reflecting on the day’s Mass readings is a great option—Scripture is God’s love letter to his people—and while you’re at it, why not try to include attending Mass beyond Sunday during this liturgical season?

Our Advent practices could also include making time to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. As you’ll read on page 15 of this week’s issue of The Criterion, the opportunities to go to confession are plentiful throughout parishes in central and southern Indiana. Clip it out or visit our Advent website at www.archindy.org/advent if you’d like the most up-to-date schedule.

As Catholics, we are a people of hope. Let us improve our disposition to make this season more fruitful. We pray: Come, Holy Spirit. Guide our minds and hearts this Advent as we wait patiently for the birth of the Christ Child, Jesus, our Savior, the cause of our rejoicing.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!”

—Mike Krokos