Blessed Advent to you! For the next four Sundays we will be preparing prayerfully and faithfully for the birth of our Savior. It is a holy time. It is a joyous time. It is a special time.
As we begin a new liturgical year, the first Sunday of Advent, we recall that God became flesh in Jesus Christ, who promised to return. The world may be busy shopping and decorating. We intentionally take time to remember that God is with us. We intentionally take time to ready ourselves for Christmas by watching for the Lord's presence in our midst, discerning what is truly of value in our lives, and when necessary, repenting or reorienting our lives to follow Jesus as John the Baptist preached. May our prayers and our efforts these Advent days ready ourselves for Christ to come into our hearts this Christmas.
When we come together to share in the Eucharist this Advent, we are being nourished in Word and Sacrament. The first readings that we will listen to with our ears and our hearts look forward to the fulfillment of God's promises. The second readings look back to the promise fulfilled in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. John the Baptist is prominent in the Gospels during the Advent season, reminding us to prepare. These scriptures will enrich and deepen our preparation this Advent as we pray in community with parishioners, guests, and visitors to the Church of St. Mary.
The preface for Advent proclaims; "For He assumed at His first coming the lowliness of human flesh...that when He comes again in glory and majesty....we who watch for that day may inherit the great promise in which we now dare to hope."
We remember Christ's first coming, now, watching for His return, we live our faith in hope. Advent is a time of anticipation and joy. During the Advent season the Gloria is not sung, with the exception of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12.
The Advent wreath hangs in our sanctuary reminding us to prepare in hope. The lighting of each candle guides us in our Advent prayer, as we count down the days to Christmas.
Special thanks to those who took the tags from the Christmas Sharing Tree last month. All gifts are to be returned to St. Mary's next weekend so they can be delivered to our sharing parish, Most Blessed Trinity in Waukegan. Thanks to the Guild and the parishioners for supporting this beautiful and generous effort of our parish.
Next Sunday we are also welcoming parishioners' generosity in helping support the Food Pantry at Most Blessed Trinity. Food donations can be brought to the Church Community Room or Parish Center before
S
unday, December 9. On Sunday, the donations will be collected at the UGC Oakwood lot entrance. Thanks for helping those in need to have food on their tables this Advent season.
St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote, "Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving others with God's own love and concern."
As you leave church today there are a few Advent gifts for you to use in prayers these days. There are Advent key chain prayers and Purple Books that contain prayers and reflections for the Advent season. May these simple efforts deepen your prayer this Advent season. Also available are parish calendars for 2019.
God bless you with a generous and receptive heart this Advent!