Happy Black Friday. Many of you have probably quickly immersed yourselves into the Christmas Season and arose early to get the best deals. The rest of you are feeling behind already. There is still shopping, shipping, cooking, cleaning, Christmas cards, decorating….and so on.
Today I am asking you to refocus on the reason for the season. Sunday marks the beginning of Advent, a time to prepare your hearts for the coming of the Lord. Reflect on the fact that Christ chose to be born into a family. He chose to be born poor, being delivered among the stable animals in the dead of winter. He chose a blue-collar father who did manual labor. He chose to work along side his dad doing carpentry and his mom doing menial chores. His family moved constantly, and thus never had the stability of a long time home. However, there was abundant love. This is He who would be the Messiah, the King.
But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the holy Spirit. Jude 1:20
For I, the LORD, am your God; and you shall make and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy. Lev 11:44
So as you busy yourself to make your holidays merry and bright, also make them holy. Chose advent activities for the family that focus on the reason for the season. If you were able to get up early to do Black Friday shopping, arise early to make a weekday Mass, or to carve out some additional time for prayer. Make prayer a family activity and of course, pray for families!
Don’t deprive yourselves. Feel the anticipation of the coming of the Lord!
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
