Let us resolve to keep this Advent as the time of our lives

Once again, we find ourselves in the month of December. Once in a while, I find myself thinking, “where has the time gone?” However, quickly I realize that the very meaning and presence of the Church’s first season of its year, Advent, always gives me the answer.
 
Advent gives all of us opportunities to re-examine the past year and recall the many and wonderful graces God has given in spite of our own many faults, failings and sins. While Advent cannot help us relive the past year, it provides us with the answer to my earlier question. “Where has the time gone?” Advent reveals to us that the time has not gone anywhere but it is moving us always forward toward that moment when we pass over from this world to eternity in death and stand before the Lord Jesus to receive from Him His just and merciful judgment.

In effect, Advent teaches us through the moments and events of our lives during the past year what the Lord has already done for us and why, and it helps us understand better that there is yet something more He is to do for us. The better question for you and me to ask is, “are we ready and willing?” Here again, Advent helps us be prepared for the Lord’s action in our lives and respond to Him with a firm faith, sure and certain hope and with an abiding love.
 
Each year, I like to refer to the great and glorious saints of Advent who are our lights on the way through this world to heaven. We should know them and have a love and devotion for them. Our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist, Sts. Elizabeth and Zechariah, and Sts. Simeon and Anna, all show us why Advent is not just a brief season in the Church’s year and in our personal lives. Our daily lives are meant to be a continuous Advent of faithfully waiting on the Lord so we can recognize Him and His will for us each day.
 
Advent prepares you and me in two ways. First, Advent reveals to us that we live on God’s time and not our own so there is no time to waste in being ready for Him each day. We do that by working at our daily prayer and by striving always to love the Lord and see Him in others. Second, Advent continues for us even as it leads to Christmas and beyond because Advent really is the time of our lives. We keep Advent before us whenever we go to Mass, receive Our Lord worthily in Holy Communion and allow Him to consume us with His mercy even as we consume Him in the Holy Eucharist.
 
Let us resolve to keep this Advent as the time of our lives and enjoy waiting on the Lord Jesus as He makes Himself known and leads us daily. May you all have a holy Advent and a blessed and merry Christmas and new year!