Advent

It’s hard to believe that the season of Advent is already upon us!  During Advent we are asked to pray more often and more fervently, seek forgiveness and be more forgiving of others, and prepare for the coming of our Lord by making sacrifices and doing good works.  While we are often on board with these ideals, putting them into practice can be challenging as we try to fit more things into our already busy schedules.  Here are some ideas to help you and your family make Advent more meaningful this year.

Pray – Taking time from your busy schedule to sit with the Lord can be challenging during the busy holiday season, but you will find that there are times when praying is easier and more natural than other times during the day.  As you wake up in the morning, pray the Our Father or a Hail Mary.  When you go to bed at night, think of three things for which you can thank the Lord.  At dinner, say grace.

Penance – Going to confession can feel scary or awkward; what do I say? What will the priest think of me? Can’t I just ask God to forgive me from the pew at church?  Jesus gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a gift.  Don’t let your concerns get in the way of receiving this powerful gift.  While you’re at it, reconcile with others and be more flexible this Advent season.

Sacrifice – By definition, to sacrifice is to “give up something of value to you in order to help someone else.”  Therefore, a sacrifice can be tangible like money or it can be intangible like time. Either way, though sacrifice is never easy, it can be simple and rewarding. Be creative.

Good Works – This can be as simple as creating good will by smiling at others more frequently or holding the door for someone as you walk into a building or it can be more complex like participating in your church’s holiday giving program.  If you want to encourage your children to be more “giving” during this Advent season, “give” them an example to follow.

How will you put God’s love into action this Advent season?