Stay Awake!
Advent Week 1
Happy new year! Today is the first week of Advent which marks the beginning of a liturgical new year in the Catholic Church. We will now be in Year A which means that we will be reading primarily from the Gospel of Matthew on Sundays.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gave an urgent message to, “Stay awake!“ Two themes of advent are preparation and waiting. We’re waiting for two main things. We are waiting for the coming of Christ at Christmas, and we are waiting for the second coming of Jesus that He promised.
I have five tips to help you “stay awake” and be prepared during this Advent season.
Color Your World
The first thing you may have noticed when you walked in a Mass today were that the colors have changed. The liturgical color for the season of advent is violet and during the third week of advent, we include rose pink to reflect joy. These colors also appear on the Advent wreath. We see these colors reflected on the altar and in the priest’s vestments.
Bring these colors into your own environment at home or in your classroom or wherever you have a prayer space. This can be as simple as adding a purple tablecloth. It is a time when everyone is preparing and decorating for the season of Christmas, but don’t forget to add those purples and pinks to reflect the true meaning of the season.
Deepen Your Prayer
Prayer should be the heartbeat of your day. The Church invites us to pray in different ways during particular season to help us focus on the meaning of those seasons. For Advent, the Church gives us so many beautiful symbols - in particular the Advent wreath. Make sure that you have a prayer space that includes an Advent wreath. It can be a simple gold ring, or can include evergreen and ribbons, and of course, your candles. During prayer, each day with friends, family or by yourself, include prayers that focus on the season of Advent and those themes of waiting, preparing, staying awake. I ordered two books: one for my classroom and one for my personal prayer. I’ve also signed up for an Advent reflection on Hallow. The simplest way to pray and stay focused on the season is to use the Gospels of the day. These can be found on any Catholic app or the USCCB website.
Go to Mass
This probably should’ve been tip number one! I hope that Mass is already a part of your weekly routine. If you are only planning to go to Mass on Christmas day, you are missing the point. It's not just about Jesus coming into the world, but remembering and reflecting on why Christmas is the celebration of the Incarnation. It is the birth of Jesus Christ, and everyone knows that the birth of a child is not just about that day. It’s about all the things you have to do to make sure that you’re ready for the coming of that new life in your life. Make sure that you are preparing for Christmas by entering fully into the weeks that lie ahead to truly prepare your heart. Advent also includes a Holy Day of Obligation: the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Set a reminder to attend Mass on Monday, December 8th.
Go to Confession
Preparing our hearts for the coming of Jesus at Christmas and for His second coming means being spiritually ready. We do not know the day or the hour when we will meet our Lord, whether through our own death or His second coming. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the more powerful ways to “stay awake” by our hearts and souls to the fullest. Check your parish’s confession times or upcoming penance services. Many Catholic schools will offer confession during Advent. Be intentional by preparing ahead of time to make a good and honest confession so your heart is ready to receive Christ.
Serve Others
Preparing for the coming of Jesus is not a selfish act. Getting to heaven is not about getting there on our own good merit just because we have faith. We have to do good work. We have to help others get to heaven too and to do this, we must serve others. Our goal is to make heaven crowded! The Advent season offers many opportunities to serve. Your family could pack a box for Samaritan’s purse, adopt a child from an Angel tree or volunteer at a local soup kitchen. Serve with others with joy!
I hope these five tips will help you enter the Advent season with intentional joy as you prepare for the birth of Christ at Christmas and the hope of His second coming.
